When I was a little girl, I used to dream about the day
when a handsome prince would ride up out of the wind on his sturdy white steed
and sweep me away to everlasting bliss. Then I would be truly happy and life
would be good. Years later, my prince did come and I thought now I will finally
live happily ever after, just like the fairy tales I had always read about.
But as the years passed, I realized my noble prince had a
few chinks in his armor and his helmet was abit tarnished. In fact, he
downright creaked when he walked. He didn't quite listen to me the way I wished
he would. He forgot things I would tell him. I expected him to know what I was
thinking without telling him. Somehow it took all the romance away if I had to
TELL him what I wanted. He couldn't fix things around the house like other
husbands I observed. In fact, in our first dollhouse, he got so frustrated
because there was no outlet in the bathroom for his electric razor that he
knocked a hole in the wall with a hammer and fed a cord through to an outlet in
the bedroom. I was livid!
Even more disconcerting was the realization that I, his
lovely princess, had a few flaws of her own. Nagging for one. Easily angered,
for another. And homemaking skills, well, they left something to be desired.
One day, shortly after my prince and I set up housekeeping, I was ironing one
of my favorite blouses that my sister had made me (luckily it was not one of my
husband’s shirts). I didn't realize I had pushed the temperature setting to
wool instead of cool (which was required for the sheer material with which I
was working). As I dutifully pressed along, I lifted the iron to begin another
section and to my horror, I caught sight of a huge scorch print on the sleeve.
I was devastated. My doom was sealed. I was right all along. My homemaking
skills were a disaster. Maybe I couldn't pull this thing called marriage off
after all.
I slumped into a chair and thought about all the times my
performance as God's child had been less than perfect. Then, in that quiet
moment, the Holy Spirit reminded me of Philippians 3:12b: "I press on to take hold of that for
which Christ Jesus took hold of me” (NIV). When I see a scorch mark on my
spiritual garment, my bridegroom, Jesus, looks at me, lifts up my face, gazes
into my eyes and says, "I love you; I chose you; I died for you and rose
again for you to clothe you with the perfect, spotless robe of My
righteousness, with no stains, no wrinkles and definitely no scorch marks. Oh,
your garment may seem disfigured from your earthly point of view, but from
where I sit in the heavenlies, 'you look marvelous!' And someday when I take
you to heaven to be with Me forever, you will see fully that I was right all
along."
In the years since that time, Jesus has made it His
mission to pursue me relentlessly. Time and time again, He has come to me with
His perfect love, unlike any human love, and reminded me that He is my Prince
who provides all the security I need now and forever. Zephaniah 3:17 reassures
me that "the Lord my God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take
great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you
with singing” (NIV). The Lord sings over me! What an awesome thought. I am that
precious and valuable to Him. He actually sings a special love song just for me
because I am his bride, His unique work, unlike any other. He has promised me
that nothing will ever separate me from His love--not life, nor death, nor
angels, nor any other created thing, nor height, nor depth, nor things present,
nor things to come. That about covers everything, doesn't it? It is this
amazing love, this relentless pursuit by a determined lover that motivates me
to be all I can be for my bridegroom, the Lord Jesus Christ. His love washes
away all indifference and apathy, compelling me to share His wonderful love
with as many people in as many different ways as I can.
If you are discouraged today and feel dry and useless in
your Christian life, a motivational book or speaker may do the trick for
awhile, but allowing yourself to fall into the grip of the relentless lover
will last a lifetime! Nothing can compare to it and nothing will move you to
service quicker. Spend time reading His love letter and talking to Him. He
delights in your presence as you do in His. You are His and He is Yours.
The other day I picked up a local
woman’s magazine which featured a hometown personality. When asked what her
wildest dream was, she replied, “That I’m really a princess and my true
identity will soon be discovered.” If I knew where to find this gal, I’d love
to tell her that she can be a
princess and her true identity can be found in the Lord Jesus Christ, her
perfect Prince!
One day I will see this Prince that I
only visualize with eyes of faith now. Revelation 19:11 says that the curtain
of heaven will open and my lovely perfect Prince will be sitting on a white
horse. At that time, He, the one who is Faithful and True, will right all
wrongs and bring evil to justice forever. Sound like a fairytale? Kinda does,
doesn't it? But the wonderful thing about it is that it is true! Jesus will
sweep me off my feet and together we will ride to everlasting joy. You see,
there is a happily ever after. It isn't pretend, it's real! And those who trust
in His relentless love will not be disappointed.
=====================================================
