The Love of His Life | Previous Challenge Entry

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TITLE: The Love of His Life | Previous Challenge Entry
By Theresa Veach
05/03/06
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I had just come home.
I had just met Jesus.
I wanted to experience the full measure of His love.

I could hear sounds of rejoicing as the church organist began to play. I could hear my Father singing over me, trumpets resounding my welcome home, and the angels singing one Hallel after another. I would never forget this glorious day, this remarkable day when I first knew Jesus, this remarkable day when I first found my family. Oh how I loved my church, my own special place in the body of Jesus. I was now a part of The Family of God. I wanted to know how to love them even more.

“Jesus, I want to know how to love the way You love.”

I had no idea what I had just asked for.

At first it was easy to love my family. I was so overcome with the joy of finally meeting Jesus that I didn’t think anything could ever break my love for them, let alone make me want to leave them. I knew we were bound together by the love of Jesus. We belonged to The Family of God.

I had been home a short while.
I was only just beginning to know Jesus.
I still wanted to experience the full measure of His love.

I could hear sounds of betrayal as the church organist began to play. I could hear voices gossiping, people arguing. I could hear brother turning against brother, sister against sister. Then I was personally attacked. Each word was like a nail being pounded into my flesh. I could feel the deep hurt, Church hurt. Family of God hurt. There is no hurt like Church hurt. Betrayal. It cuts through the soul and tries to abort the living spirit. It can leave you alone and bitterly wounded if you let it. It had been so easy to love when I was being loved in return. This betrayal was too deep for me to overcome. I had to find a new family where people did not gossip, or argue, or turn against each other. Where is The Real Family of God?

I decided to leave home.
I was still only just beginning to know Jesus.
I still wanted to experience the full measure of His love.

I continued to hear sounds of betrayal. I heard the crowd roar, “Crucify Him!” I could hear Peter deny Him. I could hear my Lord’s very own creation turn against Him. I could hear the nails being pounded into His flesh. I could hear the creaking of the cross-- the cross that had been made from one of His very own trees—being raised and then slammed back down into the very earth He had formed. Betrayal. Betrayal that cuts through the soul and tries to abort the living spirit.

Even so, Jesus never once thought of leaving His family. No matter what, we will remain the love of His life, for we are The Real Family of God. He gave us the full measure of His love—He gave us the love of his own life. Just before His final breath, I heard Him whisper to me:

“I thought you wanted to know how to love the way I love. I have given you that opportunity. By experiencing betrayal you can learn about my love.”

What was He asking me to do? Could I really go back to my family and love them the way He loves them? I had no idea how much it would cost to learn about the love of Jesus. I would have to give up my desire to be alone. I would have to give up my desire to remain bitter. I would have to give up the desire to forsake my family.

“You are a part of My Church, the real love of my life. I gave up the love of my own life to gain the love of your life. What won’t you give up for Me, the love of your life?”

I have just returned home.
I am still just beginning to know Jesus.
I still want to experience the full measure of His love.

I could hear sounds of rejoicing mingled with sounds of betrayal as the organist began to play. I could hear my Father singing over me, trumpets resounding my welcome home, and the angels singing one Hallel after another. I would never forget the glory of this day…

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