The Cosmic Romantic

In my previous article for February I wrote about the true history of Valentini and his love, the history behind Valentine’s Day. Valentini was a Christian priest and teacher who had been arrested and sentenced to death by the Romans. While in prison one of the guards asked if he would tutor his young daughter knowing that he was a noted teacher not just of theology, but of history, science, math, etc. Valentini affirmed that he would be glad to teach her. In the process he led this young disciple to Christ and the love that developed between them was a holy love between two Christians, one being the teacher and the other the disciple. The day before Valentini was to be executed he wrote a letter to his young student encouraging her to stay strong and faithful to her Lord throughout her lifetime. He signed this letter, Tu Valentini, or “Your Valentine.” Of course, this beautiful postscript later evolved into an expression of one who romantically loves another. Thus, Valentine’s Day became the holiday of romance.

It is important to understand that even though Valentini’s love for this young disciple was not a romantic love as such, but the love of a teacher to his or her students. I understand this love remembering the tremendous love that I felt for those high school students that were in my group when I was a High School Pastor. But this does not negate the wonderful reality of romance. Remember, love, marriage, family were all thought up by God Himself, that Cosmic Romantic. Just earlier today I was driving on the street next to a high school and I noticed two young students, probably a couple of freshmen. The young girl was absolutely adorable and I could see from her coy smile that she was impressed with this young man. I watched his rather silly smile and his body language that was nothing short of goofy and I realized that he had it bad. Young goofy boys with cute little girls simply don’t have a chance. Been there, done that!

This story brings me to the One who is truly the Cosmic Romantic. Think about Adam and Eve. Jesus had just formed Adam (“man” in Hebrew) from the dust of the earth. He breathed the spirit of life into him and subsequently instructed him to eat freely from all vegetation but leave out the one tree in the midst of the garden because if you eat from that one you’ll die. Then Jesus said, It is not good for man to be alone; I will make a helper suitable for him. After this, He brought “every beast of the field and every bird of the sky” to Adam for him to name them all. They all came in pairs, male and female, and I’m sure that Adam saw that each pair of animals was quite smitten with the other in a wonderful way. I can envision the mommy lion chewing playfully on the ear of her big daddy lion as they romped together in delight of one another. Of course, after seeing and naming all the creatures Adam must have looked around and said, “Hey, wait a minute, I’m beginning to feel very alone here.” Thus, having made Adam aware of his need for a partner of his own, Jesus caused a deep sleep to fall over Adam then He proceeded to perform the first “open heart” surgery. He took out a rib, that which surrounds the heart, and formed it into the most incredible creature, the prototype of every woman who would come after her.

Try to imagine how Adam must have felt when he first opened his eyes and beheld this unbelievable sight. I am sure that Eve was wearing one of those very coy smiles as she looked at her man. I also can envision Adam being just all goofy as he immediately fell madly and hopelessly in love. I’ll wager he tried to show off to her. He probably climbed a tree to show off but in his overwhelmed state of mind I can see him falling out of the tree and landing hard on the ground — and I’m sure Eve just giggled at him in delight. Ah, young love!

I am convinced that Jesus’ word, It is not good for the man to be alone; I will make him a helper suitable for him, typifies God’s heart. The triune God exists eternally in a perfect state of oneness and fulfillment but, being the God of infinite love, I can hear the dialogue between the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit, We have too much love within ourselves not to bring forth a creation that we can pour out upon the fulness of our love. The great motivation for God to bring forth a kingdom of created beings stems primarily from His infinite nature of love. As the Apostle John wrote, God is love. (I John 4:8). John also wrote, We love because He first loved us (I John 4:19). God will be pouring out the fullness of His infinite love on His creation but there will never be a more perfect and full expression of His love than the expression seen in the death of His Son, who took upon Himself the fullness of mankind’s sin, received from the Father the fullness of His wrath, and paid the price for mankind’s salvation. And He didn’t just give us a ticket to heaven, but literally He places upon us the fullness of His glory so that we will spend eternity seated positionally with Him reigning with Him over all of His creation. As John wrote, For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life (John 3:16). Paul adds, For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed in us. For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God (Romans 8:18-19).

God’s love is a free gift but it must be received personally. As the Apostle Peter stated, . . . (E)very one who believes in Him has received forgiveness of sins (Acts 10:43). The one who surrenders to Christ’s offer of love will be filled with this love by the Holy Spirit Who comes to live right within our hearts. If you have never asked Christ to be your Lord and Savior, I think it’s time for you to meet this Cosmic Romantic for yourself.

Rustan Hicks
Great Awakening Ministries
rustanhicks@dc.rr.com
(760) 399-0864