I suppose I should explain my reason for writing about love. No, it's not because the Bachelor Pad just had it's season finale. Actually this series of posts has been in the works for a while. The reason for finally writing and publishing it is a movie.
I finally saw the movie "500 Days of Summer." It's a good movie. I love movies that seem to capture and communicate the real feelings we all experience. Not to mention that I think Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zoey Deschanel are very underrated actors.
In this movie we see the main character Tom make the choices I spoke about in part one of this series. But I don't want to dwell on the movie.
What I really want to impress on you is, in my opinion, the most important aspect of love. All the rules still apply. Remember, love happens when we allow our affections and attraction to turn our thoughts and actions toward a person or idea.
This is why love is so intense. It's a takeover emotionally, physically, mentally and intellectually. Love changes what we say, do, feel, think, attempt, etc. And when we find someone who reciprocates this feeling it changes everything. When you finally experience this on a real level, you suddenly realize it's no longer about what you desire to receive but what you're willing to give.
What's even more incredible than that is when we use this understanding of love it sheds a new light on the redeeming work of Christ on our behalf. Ephesians 1:4 says that "He chose us in Him." Did you see that? Don't miss it.
"He chose us…"
God, seeing us in our sin and desperation, chose us. He chose His affections and attractions to us as His creation, his bride, his children and turned his actions toward us. Of course this action is self-glorifying for God but it doesn't change the fact that He still chose to love us. He, through His son, redefined love for eternity. In fact He, as we know from 1 John, is in fact love.
In movies like "500 Days of Summer" there is usually this moment where the main character looks back at the great love affair moments in a relationship or over the course of their life. At the end of my life I want to look back and see that the last great love affair of my life wasn't wasted on some silly mistake. Neither will it be my wife, children, grandchildren or any other grand pursuit.
The last great love affair of my life will be a lifetime pursuit of the one who gave up everything for me; the one who in spite of all the reasons I've given to disqualify myself, still extends love and forgiveness. I'm so thankful for all God has done and the love He so eagerly shares with me.
So now "we love because He first loved us."