Romans 8

Today, I watched Love Actually (censored, without that explicit story) and Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs.
As I watched the first movie, I was struck by the nature of the relationships-a glance, a touch, a look-and it's over. It's love at first/second/third sight. Yet the underlying premise, the basis, is physical attraction. THAT is what constitutes that "fall in love" part (actually, it is nearly the whole), and the only story that showed a woman sacrificing that physical intimacy for her mentally unstable brother is portrayed as a noble, but infinitely sad and dismal existence compared to the exuberant happiness when that fleeting desire is consummated-and, what is more, celebrated!
And I was confused. In part because I now have a partial understanding of what love is, I could not help but scoff at the notion that relationships are based on such flimsy footing (and roll my eyes when surprise, surprise! they fall apart just as readily).
I brought up this feeling in casual conversation with Jasper, and his reply was-"what do you expect?" What DID I expect?
Did I expect that the world would know anything else but a sweet story of confused individuals mistaking coincidence and lustful glances for lifelong companionship? Did I expect that two friends (in the movie) would realize their deep bond (love?) for one another and feel fulfilled by getting wasted and watching X-rated films together and consider that an 'ultimate' bond of affection?
And I was reminded of the depth of Christ's love, the breadth of true love.
I've been going through Romans, and Romans 8 particularly took my breath away.
First, justification. How did God justify us, how did He deal with the formidable spectre of the law, and the sin that chains us to the hopelessness of condemnation? vs. 3 For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the sinful nature, GOD DID by sending His own Son in the likeness of humanity to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in human flesh...
So that was the price. And Paul goes on to paint a beautiful picture of our struggle against the flesh, against the sinful mind and its sinful desires that coexist with the Spirit within us-but we indeed have victory, for we are the children of God through the Holy Spirit we received!
Such suffering! Although we are justified according to the law, though we are adopted into God's family, though we have the Spirit of God-I still suffer so much from the weakness of indulging in my sinful nature. Surely that is where insecurity prowls, in the hearts of those that are controlled by their sinful desires! When I feel so alone, such longing that fills my heart to have fulfillment-and when I am seduced by the thought of going against what I know is the right attitude and approach to be wildly impractical and "romantic"-I am seduced by my sinful nature. Truly verse 6 speaks-The mind controlled by the sinful nature is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace.

Yet this struggle is not the end-oh, praise GOD that this struggle is not the entirety of a poor Christian's existence! NO, there is glory. There is hope. There are all of the intangible but wonderful, glorious gifts that God bestows upon His people!
vs. 18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
vs. 24-25 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.
Most of all, we have the promise and the love of God.
We have this awesome promise in Romans 8:28 (one of my life verses) And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him and who are called according to His purpose.

But, more overwhelmingly, we have the love. of. Christ.
We have this divine, unchanging, true love. vs. 35a Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?
Here I ask, who? Who? Is there any person who can tear us away from Christ's love? Is there any man or woman alive who can claim that they stole Christ's love away from a soul? I'm sure there are those that claim they have, and perhaps they have ensnared some temporarily-but I am continuously reminded that even when we humans are unfaithful, GOD IS FAITHFUL, for He CANNOT DENY HIMSELF. He faithfully loves even when we reject Him for other lovers, and even when we come back beaten, bruised, broken. No soul can ever separate us from the love of Christ. That is...glorious. absolutely glorious.
vs. 37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.
vs. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor ANYTHING ELSE IN ALL CREATION will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Divine love is so absolutely glorious. I cannot find any other adjective in my (rapidly diminishing) English arsenal to describe it, for glory to me captures the highest possible state that God could ever bestow upon His people. Imagine, to be in the presence of the glory of God!
Yet as I ponder divine love, its indestructible nature, its undying connection-I realize in my heart that there is a divine purpose intimately intertwined with this divine love. I realize that Christ's love, yes, it is a beautiful and wonderful promise that is secured for me, for Christians-but it is also a fact for the world. Previously I had been girding myself to go into medical school and to pour myself into becoming the best at my calling (medicine)-but with the view that my classmates are (friendly) rivals, the view that my classmates are ones who I must keep at a distance in order to succeed in my goal.
Yet in light of this divine love, Christ speaks gently but firmly: Dennis, what is my purpose for you? In the words of another medical student friend who I met recently (paraphrased) Christ/Christianity gives me a clear and wonderful purpose that gets me up in the morning every day. Without that I'm not sure I CAN get up!

At the time I wanted to test and ask-so what purpose is that, specifically? Yet I myself had no clear answer other than a vague assent towards 'glorifying God.'
Divine love means that I live for the purpose of connecting lost and lonely souls with the embodiment of that perfect, holy love. Yes, I am to work towards becoming the best at my calling, but more importantly I must approach it with the overriding desire to see my classmates know and experience divine love.
While my inexperience with love has caused my heart to go in all sorts of directions, in Christ's love I find the shelter and security that I need. My heart is still, my soul calm-for my desires have been laid at the feet of a God who loves me with an invincible love.