My Best Love

I was 6 years old when I heard about a guy named Jesus. I had just moved to Oklahoma from South Korea and started going to church. It was a pretty strange concept to me at the time. I asked my mom, “Who is this Jesus guy everyone keeps talking about? Did He die in Oklahoma?”

It’s 2019, and that same Jesus guy is Lord of my life now. Growing up,  I had always viewed God in various roles—Savior, friend, Father, counselor, etc.—but, in college, my realization of God’s view of Himself in transformed my relationship with Him and changed the course of my life.

God has a Perfect Will

In my sophomore year of high school, I had a near-death experience that led me to seriously pursue God, but mostly alone. I came to UT hungry for Christian fellowship more than anything, and I tried out multiple Christian groups. I prayed for God to place me where He needed me to be, where I would grow. I found Christian Students on Campus at an event called “Ice Cream Connect” during my orientation and met my now closest friends at a weekend retreat called “Freshmen Connect.” After a friend invited me to a home meeting, I was all in.

Here is a snippet of my journal entry from that first home meeting:

11/2/18
I had a revelation. It cured me. Tonight my understanding of God’s intentions changed. My life changed. My worries are gone. My purpose is clear. My mental health just like, reset. Everything is well. What is this? I want nothing but to listen and read and learn more about who this God I thought I knew really is. He is a relatable God. He brings me peace.

I felt that I was truly in a Christian household for the first time. Talking about Christ was never saved for another time, like only when the Bible study part of the night started; He came up in our ordinary conversations over dinner! These believers’ daily enjoyment of the Lord was evident and contagious. I was attracted.

That night, we explored the theme of the divine romance between God and man, from Genesis to Revelation. The Lord softened my heart and I absorbed every word spoken to me. Within the fastest 4 hours, I was filled with the Spirit as I flipped between verses, combining them like pieces of a puzzle and crying tears of joy because everything made sense.

And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness. –Acts 4:31

The Divine Romance

The divine romance is an incredible truth that spans not only the Bible from beginning to end but also eternity from beginning to end.

Here’s the run-down of the parts I thoroughly enjoy:

The Bible shows us that God has a desire before even the beginning of time, in eternity past, present, and eternity future. He has an eternal purpose.

The Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” –Genesis 2:18

God knew that it was not good for Adam to be alone because He Himself was alone! Adam, the only creature made in the image of God (Gen. 1:26), named all the animals God had created and saw that none of them matched him as a suitable helper (Gen. 2:20). God, being love (1 John 4: 8,16), displays, through Adam, that He desires an object of love, a recipient of Him, a counterpart fit for Him.

This verse blew my mind because this is what I was missing all my years as a Christian. I craved a community that matched me, a group of people with seeking hearts for the Lord, the Body of Christ (Rom. 12:4-5, Col. 1:18). Our walk of faith is not meant to be an “alone” journey!

So to build Adam’s counterpart, God caused a deep sleep (a picture of death) to fall upon Adam, took a rib (out of his side), built Eve, and then brought her to Adam. Adam was a type of the one who was to come (Rom. 5:14), foreshadowing Christ.

To build God’s counterpart, Christ was put to death and pierced in the side (where ribs are). Out came His blood, which washes and redeems sinners, producing the church (Acts 20:28). This church does not refer to a physical building, but rather, God’s people (Eph. 2:22). You and me. But we must not get stuck on the redemption part! Water also came out of Jesus’s side, which we see in Ephesians 5 is necessary for cleansing.

Christ loved the church and gave Himself up for her, that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, that He might present the church to Himself glorious, not having spot or wrinkle or any such things, but that she would be holy and without blemish. –Ephesians 5:25-27

He wants us to be washed by His blood (ask for forgiveness), and washed by the water of the Word, God Himself (read: to know Him and to ready ourselves as His mature Bride, holy and fit for Him).

Let us rejoice and exult and give Him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His Bride has made herself ready. –Revelation 19:7

A Change in Perspective

When I got home that night, I felt all my worries leave me. Nothing could take my joy away when I found out I am married to the Lord! This isn’t just any relationship. This is God’s eternal purpose. This is His promise, my promise, to be one together forever. This love surpasses every other kind of love. Isn’t that awesome? The Triune God of the Universe wants to love you and me!

Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. –1 Peter 1:8-9

I knew that I had touched something very real and came back for more week after week, mind blown every time. The Lord radically changed my attitude towards life and poured into me through every home meeting, prayer meeting, ministry series, appointment, divine revelation, and interaction with my companions. Instead of, “God, what should I do?” I got to ask for the first time, “God, what is Your purpose for You?” I had never heard of these deeper truths before coming to UT, but when I did, I tapped into something so captivating and rich and delightful. I got to know the precious Person that is Christ. He entered into me as the life-giving Spirit, transformed my being, and became my satiating joy forever.

So, thank You, Lord, for my reality and community centered on You. Thank You, Lord, for being my sweetest love and my best love.

By: Sunny Kang