Image by Melissa Clayton
Read verses 6 and 7 slowly. Read them as if God is speaking directly to you.
I hope through this study you have found intimacy with Christ. I hope that even if you're still trying to get there, these words sink in and convince that Jesus' desire is for you. For me. For all of us individually. If we are ever going to be truly satisfied in life, we must answer his call as he gently draws us to himself - we must set him a seal on our hearts.
His love for us is stronger than death. It is stronger than actual bodily death, and it is stronger than the spiritual death we bring to our souls through sin. He is jealous for our hearts because we give ourselves away to other people and things and distractions. But all of the busyness, failures, and suffering in the world do not have power over us. They have no control. The tumultuous waters of life cannot quench the love Jesus has for each one of us. The floods in which we feel helpless cannot drown Love, no matter how much we want to give up.
Many years ago, I felt like my soul was pretty close to death. It was a desert, to say the least, so to me there was no difference. As I mentioned in a previous post, many times the walls we put up between us and God have their foundations in shame. Sometimes we can accept that God forgives us, but we can't forgive ourselves. This is the place I was at. My heart was gradually becoming more and more hardened, but I was also desperate for God to mean something in my life. In a wave of fear and hopelessness, God finally broke through. All I remember is physically falling to me knees, crying out to God, "Why?" and hearing the response, "I love you. I love you. I love you." Repeated over and over again.
My heart melted. Love changed everything. It was Love that washed away sin, and Love that softened my stony heart (Ezekiel 36:26). Perfect love cast out fear (1 John 4:18), and I began a new life with God sealed on my soul. Through temptations and trials that followed, nothing succeeded in destroying the love which became my foundation.
As someone who hit rock bottom before realizing that Jesus' love was the only answer, I appreciate these final verses of Song of Songs. Respond to your Beloved - it is the hardest and best journey you will ever embark upon. Love really is as strong as death. Stronger, actually. And nothing will ever quench its flame.
Vivi d'amore! (Live out of love!)
(The last one, I promise: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XZOLQLL-tWo)
