Life is a miraculous journey of discovering more of who God is and who we are in God’s eyes. Our class’ definition of ‘spirituality’ is: that spirituality is our response to a deep and mysterious yearning for self-transcendence and surrender. We deeply yearn for God as we were created to do.
There is a similar cycle in our physical life that corresponds to and symbolically represents our spiritual life in our belief of eternal life through Jesus Christ. In our physical life’s journey, we are born from man and woman and we cleave to our parents for life’s nutrition, safety and security out of our infancy and dependance. Then there comes a time when we are compelled to leave our parent’s side, become self-aware, find our sense of identity and cling to a mate, becoming one flesh through the holy covenant of marriage. In marriage, the desire to become one flesh is an all-encompassing and compelling magnetic pull to the ultimate bond of this physical life. It is not simply a one-time desire, it is a desire that never goes away, that is always present and ever powerful. Intimacy never loses its glimmer in the eyes of the beloved, and the lover. There is an irrefutable desire, passion and untied love leading up to a climax of a consistent, healthy, marital union. There comes a point in each intimate relation in which both the female and the male have to fully give up themselves, give into their body’s desire, and surrender completely to the experience of becoming one flesh with their lover --or their beloved. The male fills the female, physically and emotionally, as he is completely fulfilled as well. Such a beautiful image of love, a beautiful intertwining design of self transcendence and erotic passion.
This cycle of leaving, cleaving, and becoming one flesh is God’s masterpiece in helping his creations have a relatable experience to his design for His son, and for us--His children. God desires to be our lover, to fill us completely and for us to be completely self transcendent and satisfied in Him. In the same way, God created his son Jesus Christ out of love, then allowed Jesus to leave His sight and become fully human, dying on the cross. Once resurrected, Jesus clung to God again, and they are forevermore fully united and satisfied. This bond is completely beyond our comprehension, with the exception of our limited understanding of the parallels between this cycle and our own flesh’s cycle of leaving, clinging and becoming one flesh in a marital bond. Spiritually, God designs us to leave the physical world after fulfilling His purpose for us and return to cleave to our creator and become one flesh in complete satisfaction and purity. In worship, prayer, and through using our spiritual gifts we desire to be completely care free and focused on God, our love for Him, His love for us, and His majesty. Much like in erotic passion, where we give ourselves--physically, mentally, emotionally--for the sake of erotic pleasure of our mate and ourselves, we go through the same process in our practice of worshiping God. Again, there is a strong parallel between the most passionate experience we can have in the physical life and our spiritual act of worship. Romans 12:1-3 says, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” God desires complete transparency and vulnerability, as do our lovers, so that He can more show us Himself and His will. This is giving ourselves completely for His cause, His love and being self transcendent in the experience with our creator.
How beautiful His plan was, is, and always will be, from the beginning of time through eternity.
Is this new to you? Or did you already know this?
Be Blessed!
The DIY Wifey,
3 comments:
I really loved reading your thoughts and perspective on marital intimacy. There is so much joy and fulfillment in a God-honoring sexual experience that the world will never understand or even come close to duplicating. Thanks for your insight!
Glory
Beautiful post! I am constantly amazed by God's wisdom of design-- in creating marriage between a man and woman as yet another way to show his pure and perfect love for His church
Conforming to the patterns of this "authentic" world, I hope. Mmmmph. Are we not urging ourselves to live a more authentic life in 2011. It is my hope that we all can love who we choose to love. Love is Gods essence in us to be shared by all. It bewilders me tht loving Christians don't get that.
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