“Love is as Strong as Death” comes from Song of Solomon 8:6, “Set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm; for love is as strong as death, jealousy as cruel as the grave, its flames are flames of fire, a most vehement flame.” Through the love between a husband and a wife, God reveals His relationship with man. God loves us with a love of jealousy (James 4:5). Hebrews 9:27 states, “and as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment.” No one can escape death; thus, it is the most powerful weapon in this world. However, the love God has for His people is stronger than death, conquering death. Since death is inevitable, the love of God is also certain. He will love us until the end, surpassing death. He said, “Yes, I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore with lovingkindness I have drawn you.” (Jer 31:3-4)
Let us look at God’s love from a broader perspective:
God’s love before the creation
God loved us before the world was created. We can see this from Ephesians 1:4, “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love” and Psalm 139:16 “Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them.” God prepared the way of salvation for us and recorded the names of those who are saved in the book of life. We are God’s creation, we were born from Him, chosen by Him and belong to Him. God’s love is like a flowing river, He is waiting for us in His eternity.
God’s love since the creation
When God created the heavens and the earth, He created man in His image. God formed Adam, our ancestor, from the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and man became a living being. While Adam should have raised up godly offspring and pass down God’s image, man sinned against God and was cut off from God’s love. Through one man, sin entered the world, and thus death became the end of all men. Originally, Adam possessed the image of God and Seth had the image of Adam, but when man began to multiply, sons of God grew corrupt in marriage. Therefore, God’s spirit ceased to live in man, and He stopped guiding all man who indulged in the flesh. After the great flood, God chose Abraham, calling him to leave his family and his father’s house and gave him a series of blessings. According to the promise of God and through faith, Abraham gained descendants as numerous as dust and stars, from one who was dead. God had chosen a family, which became a nation, commencing the era of the chosen people.
In the Old Testament, God frequently uses the relationship between a husband and a wife to describe the love between Him and His chosen people. It is recorded in Hosea 2:19-20 “I will betroth you to Me forever, yes, I will betroth you to Me. In righteousness and justice, in lovingkindness and mercy; I will betroth you to me in faithfulness, and you shall know the Lord.” And in Jeremiah 3:12-15, God said “Return, backsliding Israel, I will not cause My anger to fall on you. For I am merciful, I will not remain angry forever. Only acknowledge your iniquity, that you have transgressed against the Lord your God, and have scattered your charms to alien deities under every green tree, and you have not obeyed My voice. Return, O backsliding children, for I am married to you. I will take you, one from a city and two from a family, and I will bring you to Zion. And I will give you shepherds according to My heart, who will feed you with knowledge and understanding.” In that rebellious time, people’s rebellion and God’s proclamations through the prophets were a vivid contrast. God told His people through prophet Jeremiah, “if a man divorces his wife, and she goes from him and becomes another man’s, may he return to her again? Would not that land be greatly polluted? But you have played the harlot with many lovers; yet return to Me” and “Will He remain angry forever? Will He keep it to the end? Behold, you have spoken and done evil things, as you were able.” (Jer 3:1-5). God is willing to let His chosen ones turn back to Him because He is a merciful God. The river of God’s love will not stop flowing because of man’s sin; His love will continue to flow even when people turn away. This great love is shown when God became flesh, was nailed on the cross, bled as man, and resurrected from the dead. Since then, the mystery of salvation which were first hidden before the creation was revealed. Romans 5:7-8 states “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die, yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” How great is God’s love! He prepared the complete gospel for us, the believers in the end times. He made peace for us through the blood He shed on the cross, and a new and living way through His body. This way, we may believe, be baptized, and enter into His kingdom.
New Jerusalem
“Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.” (Rev 21:2). The holy city New Jerusalem refers to the spiritual true church. “Coming down out of heaven” means that it will manifest in the spirit. Having the only and complete truth, the church is ready to meet the bridegroom, Jesus Christ. In Revelation 22, it records a river of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb. “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” and let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. This river of water of life refers to the Holy Spirit. Through God’s love, He wants to give this Spirit to those who desire it, just as Jesus Christ had promised us.” (John 7:37-39). The things which God has prepared for us, the eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man. Our lives in human history is merely a speck, not to mention how miniscule it is in God’s eternity. Nonetheless, God loves us and is leading us home. He allowed our lives to be reconnected with Him by preparing a heavenly New Jerusalem for us, which is the saved true church. In this city, there are no more curses, no more tears and no more darkness. He will be our God and we will meet Him face to face. Those who believe in Him can drink from the water of life and have everlasting life. God’s love began before the creation and will last forever!
Looking at God’s love from a closer perspective
“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.” (Mat 6:33). This passage tells us that God cares for us both spiritually and physically. In chapter 2 of Ephesians, it mentions “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus”. This is the mystery of why God became flesh; it was to save us and bring us into His kingdom. We must also reciprocate God’s love but completing the things we must do to receive salvation. We must believe, be baptized, be counted as righteous by God, and continue to renew ourselves in the Spirit, building ourselves up in the truth. We must put on a new man which was created according to God, in true righteousness and holiness. We must regain God’s image, which was lost. Romans 7 mentions two laws in man’s hearts which are in constant war. Our mind wills to do good and what we actually do is not what our mind wills. However, the just shall live by faith, therefore, we must rely on the Holy Spirit and be saved through our faith. At the same time, we must preach the gospel, that others may also hear the truth of salvation. We must seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all that we need in life shall be added to us. God knows our every weakness and need. He taught us in Matthew chapter 6, “do not worry about your life, for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.” We are loved by God and God is not far from us. The Bible itself says that the very hairs on our head are all numbered. We can meet Him in prayer, He can be experienced, He helps us in times of trouble, and He comforts us in our sorrow. God will fill our life with joy. He is the one God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all and in you all. How can we miss out on such love?
God’s love is as strong as death!
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