“For your Maker is your husband— the LORD Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. ~ Isaiah 54:5

When Jesus came to this earth, He came with a proposal—the question is, have you truly accepted it?

The Groom

Jesus came and showed us God's loving Kingdom through his presence and with his words. Jesus exemplified His love for us by forsaking the allure of this world, remaining steadfast in devotion to our Heavenly Father, and ultimately sacrificing Himself on the cross.

The Declaration

Jesus revealed the Kingdom to us, declaring, "This is what you have turned away from." You chose to forsake my Father's love, seeking fulfillment elsewhere. In your pursuit of self-reliance, you succumbed to the deception of your desires and the influence of Satan, believing there was a superior alternative to me. Your rebellion was so severe that it led to the costly sacrifice of my life.

The Proposal

Jesus came to us with a proposal. His message was clear: "In me and my words you have glimpsed the Kingdom of my Father, where you truly belong. Have you felt the depth of my love for you and understood your significance to me? Will you abandon the fleeting allure of this world to return home with me? Will you relinquish your earthly life to dwell in the realm of God? Have you considered the profound sorrow your actions and rebellion have caused the Father? You crucified not just me—but also God's love and His Kingdom. If so, repent of your sin and come follow me."

The Marriage Analogy

I appreciate the symbolic use of marriage in the Bible to depict our relationship with God. While some may not resonate with it, especially some rugged men, I find it a fitting analogy that effectively illustrates the depth and intimacy of our connection with the divine.

Imagine a marriage where one partner chooses to leave for someone else, only to realize later the grave mistake they've made—a realization that they've turned away from the love of their life and destroyed their relationship. Now, if they genuinely desire reconciliation, the natural course of action would be to seek forgiveness from their spouse.

The next logical step would be to return to their spouse. It might seem obvious, yet many people ask God for forgiveness but then revert to their previous lifestyle, effectively abandoning their desire for reconciliation. Until they return to their spouse, the union remains broken. Even if they try to live virtuously, the relationship remains dead.

True Repentance and Return

Furthermore, our return to our spouse should be marked by humility, proving the sincerity of our repentance. Having lived apart from our spouse, we should acknowledge the emptiness of life without them and recognize how we've hurt and taken them for granted. These realizations should humble us, prompting a life devoted to our love, ready to rebuild our relationship in unity and commitment.

Jesus has extended His invitation, and if we desire to reconcile with Him, we must mend our marriage. Mending our relationship entails repentance, sincerely seeking forgiveness for our transgressions, and expressing gratitude for God's willingness to forgive us. Subsequently, we must return to Jesus by renouncing our former ways and wholeheartedly committing to follow Him. Jesus must be the very essence of our lives.

A Surrendered Heart

Choosing to follow Jesus requires a surrendered heart, characterized by humility, as we acknowledge Him as our ultimate treasure and source of fulfillment. We obey Him willingly, submit to His will, and eagerly serve Him, prioritizing His desires above our own.

If we're not ready to fully commit, then what's the point of returning? Ultimately, salvation offers only two options: being united with Christ or leading an independent life. Remaining single, living solely for oneself, means rejecting Jesus' proposal. The decision rests with us, and we must weigh which choice holds greater significance.

The Final Question

If Jesus is truly the love of your life, you will accept His proposal. Have you?