At the prompting of the Lord, I started the 2012 New Year off with a 40-day fast. Somewhere around day four or five I heard the Holy Spirit whisper to me, “I love you with an everlasting love.” The words penetrated my soul, and soothed my heart like a lullaby.
God said the same words to Israel in Jeremiah 31:3-5:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love. I have drawn you with loving-kindness. I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful. Again you will plant vineyards on the hills of Samaria; the farmers will plant them and enjoy their fruit.”
There were many messages in God’s Word to me that are personal, but one of my favorites is that in these verses Israel is called a virgin after they had turned their back on God time and time again and committed what He called both adultery and harlotry (Jer. 3:8). The message behind the word ‘virgin’ is that the Lord sees her just as appealing as in the time of her departure from Egypt as He did before they sinned against Him. The take home value is that grace blots out the past and that both rebuilding and joy are to come in its place.
If you’ve ever taken the time to read the pilgrimage of the Israelites 40-years in the desert, you know that they murmured against God on multiple occasions, even after they personally witnessed astronomical miracle after miracle including the Red Sea parting, manna from heaven, and water from a rock. Their grave sin caused God to be so angry that He said, “I have seen this people and they are a stiff-necked people indeed! Let me alone, so that I may destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven” (Deut 9:13-14).
From Deuteronomy to Jeremiah there appears to be a real change of heart in God, but the truth is that God’s love for Israel never wavered – even when they forsook Him and worship other gods. His love is non-negotiable; he cannot love us any more or less than He does at this moment in time – regardless of what we say or do. The seemingly contradictive emotions of God are merely God grace in action.
Grace is an act of pardon usually from someone who is in authority over you. God was more than familiar with the Israelites rebellion in their past, but He had something so much more for them than they could imagine – a land flowing with milk and honey; and He loved them so much He was willing to excuse their past behavior to see them live in the blessings He had in store for their future. Through His grace, He was willing to restore the years of sin that the locust had eaten, and replace it with vineyards plump with berries.
I have received much grace in my life for which I am eternally grateful. The greatest of which was Jesus Christ’s death, resurrection and ascension for my personal sins (Ro 5:15). What greater gift is there than being pardoned for all your sins? As 2 Corinthians 12:9 says so well, “My grace is sufficient for you…”
I believe the words the Lord spoke to me are for you as much as they are for me. He does love you with an everlasting love, and His grace is just as sufficient for you as it has been and continues to be for me. Take a few minutes today and seek the Lord in prayer and thank Him for both gifts that He provides for us so freely.
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