GOD THE LOVER

I became a Christian when I was in High School, about ten years before I enrolled for those MBA studies. I became active in the school’s Christian fellowship. I devoured Christian Books written by people like MacArthur and Tozer. Soon, I was leading Bible Studies on my own. In my spare time, I would roam around the campus, looking for fellow students – usually a hapless freshman – to share the Gospel with. When that person accepted Christ, I would type follow-up lessons for him (this was before word processors.) I even kept a prayer list of around 60 names and items. Perhaps, it was legalism. Perhaps, it was obsessive – compulsive behavior. But each day I really prayed through those 60 names and items.

When I graduated from High School, my Christianity unraveled. The Church worker who was mentoring me left for the US to pursue his studies. That meant nobody to be accountable to me anymore. I became sloppy in Church attendance. Later, I quit going to Church altogether. By the time I was in college, I scrapped the 60 – item prayer list and discarded my Bible –reading.  I was backslidden Christian when I was courting this girl.

Much later, as I was reading my Bible, an inkling crept into my mind: To the degree that I desired that girl to love me and spend time with me, that is only a glimpse of how much God desires the same of me. The twist in this chapter, then, is the frustrated Suitor is not me, but God.

To some, God is a stern Cosmic Judge in the sky. To others, He is a doting Grandfather winking at out foibles and frailty. But it is best to derive our view of God from His self-revelation in the Scriptures. The Bible uses human relationships to describe God’s relationship with man. One powerful analogy is that God is a lover in pursuit of our hearts.

True Christianity is a romance. God is the Lover. We are the fickle maiden. He seeks to woo and to win. When God brought Israel out of Egypt, His purpose was not merely to send them to the Promised Land. He said, “You yourselves have seen what I did to Egypt, and how I carried you on eagle’s wings and brought you to myself.” God wants to draw us to Himself. Not to a creed, not to a Church – although these are important – but to Himself.

From the Book: How to Mend a Broken Heart

Written By: Nelson T. Dy

God Bless Us..

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