A Knight in shining armor, you say? Well that’s weird coming from a guy right?!
Well, yeah, maybe so, but I’ll just let you in on my “story tale fantasy.” You may find it to be much more truth than just a fantasy though.
This knight is dressed up in beautiful shining white armor that when you see it, it’s almost blinding to you because of how bright it is, but even more so when the sun shines against it. He is holding a pretty long sword, about 5 foot long, in one hand. And in the other hand he holds a great shield that is about 4 foot from top to bottom and 3 foot side to side. This shield matches the brightness of his armor but has a crest on the front of a mighty red lion. It is incredible to watch the knight as he has some pretty large weapons but he fights and defends flawlessly and with such grace and power.
Then there are thousands of soldiers that are as far as the eye can see in the other direction. They don’t really have any special features they are just tall, black formless soldiers with a dark gray armor.
It’s a rather drastic place to start, but the scene is set in the middle of a raging battle. Yet it’s also rather odd because, well, it’s one person versus thousands of soldiers. Like I said previously, you can’t even see the end of them, but that’s just to try to put a number to how great an army this one man is against.
There is yet one more factor in this battle, and it is also the reason that this single knight is fighting against what seems like a pointless battle. That remaining factor is his bride. Her face is turned away and refuses to look upon him for the shame that is within her very soul.
All that the knight can see is the back of his bride and these dark soldiers surrounding her, taunting him from afar, and the rest of the soldiers attacking him relentlessly.
But why? Why would a knight, or anyone for that matter, go to such lengths to fight a battle that doesn’t even look possible to win, and for a person that has turned their back and betrayed their love? Unfortunately, that person is me, and if you look hard enough, you might see yourself there too.
Let’s break in the story real quick…
I am reminded of the story of Hosea and his wife. First of all she is unfaithful before he even marries her. After some time she leaves and goes to another man, and Hosea is told to go and love again this woman that has left and been unfaithful and be reunited with her. This is exactly what Israel has done towards God, and also exactly what I, and so many others, have done as well.
God chose me in the middle of my darkness, in the middle of chasing after all the “fun” things that the world has to offer while simultaneously running away from Him. From that, there is a great deal of shame attached that just doesn’t go away. It often creates the statement, “well I’ve done all of this, now no one would want to love me after all of my sins, my idolatry, my blatant disregard for them desiring a relationship with them. So why even try?” It is shame that tells us this. Shame says, you’ve gone too far, no one could love you after that, you’ll never be good enough. Those are flat out lies from Satan y’all! If the enemy can bind you in shame and guilt then he’s done his job!
But you know what God says about you? He says you’re beautiful, you are worth the chase, you are loved, I am proud of you, my grace is sufficient to cover all of your sins, I just want you. That’s our Father. He IS love. He IS good. He IS merciful. And He IS holy.
So check out this last part of the story. It’s my favorite part!
The story left off with the enemy taunting the knight, the bride with her back to him, and him fighting fiercely, progressing towards her. As he defeats his enemy one after another, he calls out to her by name. She moves but still will not turn around completely.
He calls again. And again. And again. And again.
He won’t give up, he won’t stop calling out to her.
Eventually she turns around, and tears are streaming down her face. She is full of shame, full of guilt, and feels completely worthless.
He calls out again but this time he tells her that he loves her and that he would fight day after day and chase after her every day to be with her. Just run to me!
Immediately, as soon as she took the first step, the soldiers turned to dust as soon as her focus shifted solely to her bridegroom. She ran as fast as she could into his arms. And that was the end of this picture that I had about the love of the Father for me, and for all his children.
The Father has this same, strong desire towards each and every one of us. It doesn’t matter what we’ve done or where we’ve been. He wants you. A relationship with you. To love on you, and for you to run into his arms.
I sound like a lovesick teenager right? I guess I am! Secret’s out! I have counted the cost and I’ve found God to be worth every word spoken, every step taken, every action fleshed out, every prayer prayed, and every time I say, “Papa, I love you!”
