(The song of Solomon 4:7) “There is no spot in thee.”
For those who
have a relationship with the Lord Jesus the way He chooses to view us in the
light of whom we are in Him is often hard for us to accept. But for those who
stand on the outside looking in, they will most certainly grapple to understand
His undying love for His own; let us remember that God’s way are most certainly
not our ways; “But
God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what
is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in
the world, even things that are not, to bring to nothing things that are,
so that no human being might boast in the presence of God. And because of him
you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, righteousness and sanctification
and redemption, so that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts,
boast in the Lord." (Corinthians 1:27-31)
My boast this morning is most certainly in
Him…
All are
familiar with the concept of marriage; some are married, others divorced and
some dream about marriage. The story of Cinderella and the like have weathered
the test of time; the idea of romantically living “happily ever after” is a dream for
many and let’s faces it who in their right mind wouldn’t want a happy life?
Whether we fall into the category of those requiring tender affection or those
that pretend it isn’t that important; when we strip away all our own
complexities we should all arrive at the same conclusion, we wholly want to
live “happily ever after”, a priority for all.
Why then are we
surrounded by so much of the opposite? Heartache, conflict, divorce and
sadness; The underlying answer is an obvious one, sin taking control and
working itself out can only produce death. Just as the serpent deceived Eve in
the garden, so too, does he and his band of reprobates, although unseen, look
to fill our lives with misery. Satan wilfully looks for permission to do harm. (See
the story of Job…) This I understand and have no problem comprehending his
objectives and the mayhem I witness throughout the world because of sin; all are effect
by it, but where does this leave the Christian?
We often
stumbled and fall, when I look at my life, divorced
has played its part in robbing me of obedience and peace. At the time of matrimony I thought I
had an apparent understanding of the responsibility of marriage. No matter how
I look to slice my very own cake with the “knife of justification” I always
come to the same conclusion, FAILED! How then was it that I failed? Although
there is an enemy that goes around like a “roaring lion seeking to devour”
those in the faith, it does not now totally excuse me. Here are the facts, I
did not love my spouse as I should have loved her; neither did I lay my life down for her; I
was selfish and quick to highlight her blemishes while excusing my own. I did
not heed God’s instruction in and through His Word, which is, “husbands love
your wife like Christ loves the church”, in other words lay your life down for
your spouse regardless of her actions. That instruction is not based on the
merits of her commitment nor her submission. It starts with the husband and
then ends with him…
An impossible
task if one is always finding fault! This will not only rob us of marriage but
in every walk of life when we look at the splinters in the eyes of others we
more often than not overlook the log in ours.
However there
is still very good news for all those who call upon the Lord Jesus…
This is what
our Saviour has done and keeps on doing in the lives of all those that call
upon Him…
Realistically
we all have a lot more than spots and blemishes and yet the Lord Jesus sees
none of them in the negative per say; let me explain… Even though His spouse
often wanders from Him; grieves His Holy Spirit and the like, He never quarrels
with her and He never lets her faults influence His love for her. He may even
reprimand at times but always with tender affection and with the kindest of
intentions. Amazingly even in our darkest times it is even then that He
whispers, “my love”. There is no repeated remembrance in the future of our
follies, which are many, innumerable for some (guilty as charged). He does not
apprize ill thoughts of us, although He created the elephant; often referring
to them and we quote, “he has a memory like an elephant”. He does not hold onto
retentions that tarnish. He pardons us with His love after as well as before
the transgression, an amazing husband with no comparison! Imagine if the Lord
Jesus was as mindful of our offenses as we are with our partners, how could He
ever commune with some of us? And yet even with my many felonies He still loves
me. What a wonderful God I serve. NO! Rather, what a gracious, merciful,
stupendous, loving and wonderful God I serve.
Because of our
sin we often convince ourselves that we are unworthy, realistically on the face
of it we most certainly are, with hypocrisy having its way in our lives, but
even this does not hinder our husband, our Saviour, our God the Lord Jesus
Christ from loving us with pureness and with no quarrel. Even our silly hearts
are no match for His love. When He looks at His bride, even though we look at
each other and see many spots, He sees neither spot nor blemish. He pronounces
His Church full of beauty. Moles and beauty spots are often surgically removed
to enhance ones beauty. What of the deadly ulcers and the cancerous sin that
captivates so many of us? The Lord does not even venture there; He sees no spot
or even the slightest blemish. Who then wouldn’t want a husband like that,
praise His glorious name. This then will be where we find our “happy ever after”,
looking no further, look to Jesus and peace with happiness will flood our
lives. As we look to Jesus it will soon become apparent that we belong to Him.
True love will
always win the victory; come what may…
Signing off
Tyrone
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