One of the books I’m currently reading is Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I’m about halfway through….so far it’s been okay, not anything earth shattering but a good reminder nonetheless. I think the book is definitely applicable for those maybe a little newer in their Christian walk, but me, I’m an old hat. Ha, ya right. Anyways, moving past the book review…a section I recently read caught my attention.
Chan quotes from John Piper, who poses the following question in his book God Is the Gospel: “If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or any natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?”
Perhaps some background leading up to this question would be helpful. In this particular chapter Chan is discussing our love for God. He prefaces this section with a beautiful story about his wife’s grandmother and how, near the end of her life, she spent hours praying with God and how she looked forward to the start of each new day in order to spend this time with her Savior. As I read about this woman named Clara I questioned (as I’ve done before) my love for God. Do I truly love Him?
Chan goes on to describe how we act when we’re madly in love with someone. I’ve been in love like this a few times and must say, he hit the nail on the head. Staying up all hours to talk, driving long hours just to see them for a little while, doing things you’d never thought you’d do for someone; being apart is painful, being together never last long enough….As I read this I compared it to how I am with Christ – it’s not like this, not any more at least.
But after I read the question posed by Piper, about being in heaven without Christ, I knew. To me there is no heaven if Christ is not there…..all of those good things would be empty and meaningless. And this, this knowing, reminded me and showed me that I do love Christ, that my love for Him runs deep and cannot be shaken. As I was smiling and resting in this, God reminded me that all ‘madly in love’ relationships start off with big burning flames but true relationships are those where the burning embers survive the test of time; where years later, when the flames may have diminished, the burning embers still remain, fueling off of one another, constantly generating heat. And this is where I am with Christ, with my Savior, with the One I love, who loves me unconditionally, undeniably.
Chan, F. (2008) Crazy love. David C. Cook Publishing: Colorado Springs, CO
Piper, J. (2005) God is the gospel. Crossway: Wheaton, IL
1 comment:
I was in Mass today and suddenly hit with the realization that just as the Church is Jesus' bride, so am I. And, though through my earthly realtionships I refine my understanding of love, it is through my divine marriage that I know love in its purest form.
So... on those days when the flames of earthly love aren't burning so brightly, the embers feel cold, I am reminded that there is one who does love me intimately, truly, deeply, for me... and I take refuge.
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