For I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. – Romans 8:38 (NLT)

So I’m binge watching a show called “This is us.” Binge watching is not something that I normally do, but Hurricane Irma has shut down our schools for a couple of days and I don’t have to go to work. I liked the show when I started watching last year. I watched all the way up until Christmas, and then never finished the season. I’m trying to finish it now so I might understand the second season when it comes on. I never thought I’d learn a spiritual lesson from watching, but I did.

I had a conversation recently with someone who really loves animals. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen anyone give all of themselves away to their pets. But, this person comes as close as anyone I’ve ever met. I made the comment that it was pretty easy to love an animal because an animal can’t hurt you. This person immediately shot back with, “Of course they can . . . they will die.”

In this one episode of “This is us,” there is a doctor who is extremely lonely. His wife of 53 years has been dead for 14 months. He loved her so much, but now she was gone. She didn’t want to or mean to, but she devastated him by doing something all of us are going to do . . . die. The doctor’s son was trying so hard to try to get him to “move on” and meet someone else, but he didn’t want to hear it. He tried to immerse himself in work, but that was only a temporary Band-Aid. When he was alone, he still talked to the wife he missed so much.

I couldn’t help but think about my relationship with my wife. This December, we will have been married for 16 years. I don’t worry about her hurting me emotionally or physically. I love her like crazy and she actually loves me back. I could only hope and pray that we get 53 years together. But, we said in our marriage vows that we’d love each other and be there for each other . . . “until separated by death.”

I depress you to give you a glorious hope. I “received” Jesus when I was 16 years old. I didn’t really know what I was getting in to. I just pretty much figured Heaven was better than hell. Five years later, at 21, after He had been pursuing me for 5 years, I started to pursue Him back. In 10 years, by the time I was 31, all of the major idols in my life had finally been cast down and He had won first place in my heart, mind, and life. I can’t believe how our relationship has grown. In the 26 years I have been a Christian, there is just no relationship like it. I had no idea it was possible to really love God. Like, for real love Him.

I am recognizing with astonishing intensity today that this is the one and only relationship that I will ever have that will last for all eternity. I can absolutely never be separated from Him. The Lord of my life will never ever hurt me. He is my one and only friend that death has no power over. Death only makes my faith become sight. When I take my last breath here on Earth, I will be with Him there. I can rest in the most secure relationship I will ever experience.

Thank you Lord that you love me, and nothing, nothing can ever separate me from your love.

Later

Adam