God’s Love Affair

By Peter Crause

Deut 10:12 And now, Israel, what does the LORD your God require of you, but to fear the LORD your God, to walk in all his ways, and to love him, and to serve the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul,

When we hear the phrase “love affair” it conjures in our minds something ugly and illicit. However it should rather be understood in its actual meaning: “a relationship between two lovers”. We should also dispense with the worldly understanding of “lovers” as always being a sexual relationship. In my youth the word “lovers” meant two people of opposite gender who were in love; a couple who’s sole desire was to spend as much time together as possible; a couple who thought about each other every minute of the day; a couple who planned everything they did to include being together. What has happened in our sick society that the common meaning of words has taken on such vile and unclean connotations?

This “love affair” of our God with mankind started in the Garden of Eden millennia ago. To my thinking, it is something that grew and developed to the ultimate demonstration on Calvary’s hill; when our Lord Jesus died for the species He loved so much: “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son!”

The Lord demonstrated His love for His people Israel in many ways and pictures. One such picture of His love was demonstrated in the life of one of His prophets of old. Hosea had been instructed to marry a harlot called Gomer. He had children with her – and then the inevitable happened; she went back to her old trade and was unfaithful to her husband. Here was an object lesson the Lord wanted to teach His prophet and subsequently the nation of Israel.

Hosea 3:1 the LORD said to me, "Go again and show your love for a woman who is committing adultery with a lover. You must love her just as I still love the people of Israel, even though they turn to other gods”

Dear reader, can anyone even begin to comprehend this? Would any one of us do such a thing – take back the unfaithful spouse on whom we’ve doted and given all our love? How could we ever trust such a one again? How could we love such a one without thoughts of their deeds flooding our minds? I have great sympathy for Hosea. However, this is exactly what the Lord did in regard to Israel’s sinning and the same He does with us! – took back the “harlot”. His love knows no bounds!

A certain Christian lady once had bouts of guilt that she was unable to deal with. She felt her sin had caused her to lose her salvation. She felt that God was angry with her and had rejected her. She believed she was no longer a child of God. She felt lost and alone – but inwardly yearned for restoration with her Lord. Satan’s lies had so overwhelmed her, she gave up in despair.

A certain servant of the Lord heard about this and was able to counsel her. He showed her the truths of the Word of God – but no matter how much he shared with her or prayed with her, she couldn’t get “victory” over the issue. This preacher closed his eyes and asked the Lord for wisdom – God gave him a Word of Wisdom:

“Sister”, he said. “You have a beautiful young daughter whom you love. What would she have to do for you to disown her and treat her as if she never was your child?”

She thought a moment and looked up with tears in her eyes: “Nothing!” she said. The “penny had dropped” – she saw the truth.

Nothing can separate us from the Love of God! Though we may have fallen so far short – acted like Gomer and gone back to our old sinful ways – yet the Lord will “take us back” and continue the “love affair” as if we’d never strayed.

Can this be true? Does God indeed love so much? The words of the old song “The Love of God” demonstrates this so well:

The love of God is greater far than tongue or pen can ever tell;
It goes beyond the highest star, and reaches to the lowest hell;
The guilty pair, bowed down with care, God gave His Son to win;
His erring child He reconciled, and pardoned from his sin.

Could we with ink the ocean fill, and were the skies of parchment made,
Were every stalk on earth a quill, and every man a scribe by trade,
To write the love of God above, would drain the ocean dry.
Nor could the scroll contain the whole, though stretched from sky to sky.

Refrain

O love of God, how rich and pure!
How measureless and strong!
It shall forevermore endure,
The saints’ and angels’ song.

Do you feel unloved today? Do you feel forsaken and alone? Do you feel God is angry with you? Do you feel he has “disinherited” you? Do you feel that maybe your sins are unpardonable? Think of that dear lady: “My child can do nothing that would make me cast them out!” This is the Love of God. His “love affair” with us will never end. When we fail – and we will – He will pursue us and take us back again. We fail, not because we don’t love Him, but because of the weakness of the flesh. Run to Him – and He will sustain you and make you true and faithful to Him. If you can happily “hurt” the Lord and reject His love advances, chances are there never was a relationship to start with. If you feel miserable – that’s a good sign – run back to Him and He will accept you once again with open arms of love!

The Lord doesn’t ask what He Himself doesn’t do – He loves us so much and asks for our love in return – “with all our heart and soul!” He’s waiting for you – He’s demonstrated and declared His love – love Him back and renew the “love affair” with God.