Romanced by God

God’s love for humanity is the ultimate romantic story.

Walk into any bookstore and you’ll find the largest fiction section is usually Romance. It’s a huge genre containing multiple sub-genres, with literally millions of titles to choose from in any online search. While the majority of strictly romance readers tend to be female, it’s not just for women. Other genres like Action, Mystery, Thriller, Science Fiction, Western – the list could go on – typically have a romantic subplot. What is it about falling in love that captures the human heart?

I think it is in our nature to seek out love. Our deepest desire is to be cherished by someone; to feel special. It’s why we hold onto ideas like ‘love at first sight’ or the notion that there is one special person out there for each and every one of us. We fantasize about the kind of romantic love that would cross an ocean, walk on nails, or run through an airport, just to catch his or her one true love.

I’m no expert on the topic, but I like to think I have some experience when it comes to finding true love. I met my husband when I was seventeen. He is far more romantic in the traditional ‘flowers and poetry’ sense than I am – something I’ve come to appreciate when I talk to other women who long for even a small amount of attention from their spouses. Forty-two years later – thirty-nine of them married – and we’re still together. Sure, we’ve had ups and downs, but despite our imperfections, we still know that we have the others’ back. We’re in this thing for the long haul, no matter what.

God’s love is a lot like that – without the idiosyncrasies, misunderstandings, and down-and-out fights, of course. God loves us with the kind of deep, unconditional love that only He can give. He didn’t just run through an airport, He laid down His life so that we could come into the most intimate relationship with Him. His love for us is often related to that of a bridegroom with His bride. Now, if that isn’t romantic, I don’t know what is!

In Ephesians 3:17-19 Paul says, “And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge – that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.” (NIV)

As Christian writers, our mandate is to showcase the love of Christ through our words, whether we write romance or not. It’s the least we can do for the One who loves us the most.

This article was originally published in FellowScript Magazine, February 2020