They sat at the tiny candle lit table. They had been there many times. This used to be their favorite place, but it had been a long time since they had been there together. Things seemed different and almost awkward this time.
He reached his hand across the table and touched her arm. She was uncomfortable and avoided eye contact with him, just staring over his shoulder hoping he would think she was looking at him. He begged her to tell him what was wrong. She thought to herself, “This place is such a silly little hole in-the-wall. I don’t know what I ever saw in it.” She seemed to forget it was here that he proposed to her and she said yes.
He could sense her distance. Tears began to fill his eyes as he said,
“I remember how much you loved me. I’d crush anyone who would harm you. What happened? What did I do wrong that you traded lovers?”
Though it seems like a scene from a TV drama, it’s actually an accurate depiction of God’s love affair with his people. God told the prophet Jeremiah to tell Israel,
“I remember the devotion of your youth, how as a bride you loved me and followed me through the wilderness. You were holy unto me, the firstfruits of my harvest; all who tried to devour you were held guilty, and disaster overtook them…What fault did your ancestors find in me, that they strayed so far from me? They followed worthless idols and became worthless themselves.” (Jeremiah 2:2-3, 5)
Rather then reacting in a jealous rage, God reminisces about the early days of his relationship with his people and pleads with them to explain what had happened. Like a jilted husband who misses the tenderness of his wife’s embrace, God wonders if there’s something he’d did to cause this.
What amazing insight to the heart of God. It was his people who had strayed, but he went after them. They were the ones who put their affections on other things, but he continued to express his love for them. They forgot the special place of their first love, but it was still dear to him, as were they.
God’s heart for you is the same. He longs for things to be how they used to be. He wants that place you and he used to go to be special again. He doesn’t want you looking towards him, but to see in his eyes the faithful love he has for you. He’s reaching out to touch you and makes this heart-felt plea,
“You’ve lost the love you had for me. Think about how much you’ve changed! Stop and come back to me before it’s too late”
(Revelation 2:4–5, JHP)
Other things have come into your life that are very pleasurable. But do you remember how much you loved him? Stop for a moment and be honest, nothing compares to what you had with him. It was magic! It was electric! It was amazing! And it can be restored to its fullest, if you would go back to him. He’s waiting.
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