that secret place

take me to that place, Lord 

where there’s nothing else but me and you

longing for your presence

i know that you’re drawing me to you

(Fall in This Place, Planet Shakers)

he offered his hand, inviting her to take it and follow him. she placed her hand in his, he took it gently yet held it firmly. she felt the warmth and the security in that grasp and she too tightened her hold just a bit.

he led her to a gate that opened into a lush green garden, hedges and rows of beautiful greenery surrounded them. flowers of the brightest blooms blossomed.

they sat on a wooden bench, spending time just enjoying each other’s presence. he held her close, she rested in his embrace. he told her his secrets, she poured her heart out to him. he comforted and gave her his assurances and promises. she closed her eyes and at that moment let her heart trust him.

she loved it; the sights, the smells, the sounds, the tastes, the touch of it all – she loved his touch most of all. the intimacy, the closeness between them both. she loved him and he loved her.

however, time passed and she didn’t know when it began but her love for him began to fade. she began to be attracted to the world outside that garden. it was tempting and alluring, interesting, wild, mysterious. she began to venture out bit by bit, compromising what she once promised she would never do. eventually she began to disobey his words. he spoke to her, confronted her. she refused to listen, she turned away.

she chased after pleasures, chased after moments, chased after materials. and in all her pursuits she ran farther and farther away from him. even when he invited her to their secret place, she just sat there nonchalantly, ignoring his love for her.

but he still loved her with an unconditional, ferocious and relentless love. he loved her.

one day, as she was wandering around chasing and following those momentary sparks, she tripped, stumbled and fell into a deep pit. her body bruised and cut, it hurt. in the pit were thorny bushes and they began to grow around her entangling her in their vines. she was trapped, tangled and hurt. she struggled to free herself only to become even more trapped. she was tired and she gave up, she surrendered.

he saw her, ran to her and with no hesitation rescued her. he freed her, saved her. he cleaned her wounds and they healed. he restored to her her beauty once again. saviour, healer, redeemer and friend.

she looked at him, and such a strong conviction broke her heart. she begged him to forgive her, to love her again. he quietened her and said, “I love you the same, yesterday, today and tomorrow. I love you.”

she closed her eyes, and put her hands to his face, running her fingers over his features; his eyes, his nose, his cheeks, his lips. she was rediscovering her first love once again. he was real and so was his love.

and he said to her, “Love me steadfastly.”

--

he is Christ our lover, she is the Church his bride.

have we forsaken our first love? have we forgotten his presence? have we decided to stay out of it?

Husbands, love your wives,

just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.

Ephesians 5:25-27

He loves us. His call to the church is to love Him steadfastly and in loving Him, love the things upon His heart.

may we be steadfast in loving Him.