Transformed

“And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God” Ephesians 17 - 19

For most of my life I have sought the outside world for validation, love and belongingness. The praise of others has been my source of identity while possessions and accolades became my desperate remedy for my hollow heart. I replaced family love with sexual love. Brotherly love for false idols. And agape love for lust and self-indulgence. Every once of meaningful connection was replaced with fast-burning pleasures that gave me the instant gratification of being received by others. This is how I knew love for most of my early adult life.

If anyone can empathize you’ll know what I mean in describing the emptiness of that approach. The hard come-downs, the radical instability and spontaneous vanishing of the world’s tempting illusions kept my heart yearning for the satiating fulfillment of a love that was true and everlasting.

When I found Christ, I felt my soul transform. Covered in the promise of a never-failing and all-encompassing love from our very own Creator, I became a man who found sanctuary in the truth that there was nothing I could ever do to earn or lose the love of Jesus. My prayer is that we all can experience the fullness of this promise, and that we never look to the world to give us the triumph of unconditional love.