At the altar, she was breathtakingly beautiful.
Away from the altar, she was a slut. She was selfish, manipulative, and inconsiderate. From day one, her eyes wondered. At the first opportunity, she cheated. She had yet to catch her breath from her wedding dance, and she was already laying naked in someone else’s bed. Naked with another, caught red-handed, she didn’t seem very desirable.
And yet, he couldn’t see beyond the altar.
People didn’t believe him when he spoke of forgiveness as if he’d already given it. They couldn’t believe that he was still head over heels for that whore. But he didn’t see a whore when he looked at her. He saw heaven. Through her embarrassed and angry tears, he still saw a sparkle. The same sparkle he saw in the beginning.
Yet, despite his forgiveness, she was unable to forgive herself. Angry, bitter, and disappointed, she packed her bags and left. She gave up and moved on. Too soon, she found other lovers. Scantily clad with an empty heart, she found comfort in the beds of many men. She buried her fears and hurt in the embraces of strangers and one night stands.
Yet, he didn’t give up.
He was the victim of her weakest moment, yet he set out to prove that he would never leave her. With every right to divorce her, he never moved on. With every right to give up and put his life back together, he never took off his wedding ring. He would do whatever it took to win her back.
You see, it doesn’t matter how far we’ve run from the altar or how fresh from the adultery we are. His love for us has not diminished, nor has He forgotten the intimacy we once shared. He love for us … for you … is passionate, furious, and obsessive. He still sees a spark when He looks in your eyes. A spark worth redeeming.
You’re not a whore. You’re not a failure. You are a treasure. You are His treasure.
Great article Jake! Well put.