Serious Love

Mar 17 2023 - Eric Buresh

He who has not forgiven an enemy has never yet tasted one of the sublime enjoyments of life. – C.S. Lewis 

Last year, we posted Serious Joy – an allegory considering the interaction between our joy, our witness, and the King’s glory. It can be found here: https://visitgracechurch.com/blog/322. Please read or re-read Serious Joy, as today’s story picks up where we left off. 

This continuing allegory is inspired by Romans 5:6-11. Christ died for us “when we were still without strength,” “while we were still sinners,” and “when we were [God’s] enemies.” This was to demonstrate God’s love toward us. A father sacrificing his son for his enemy is Serious Love. It’s unfathomable and indescribable love: 

While the King fought the battle against the evil army, the young man, the King’s son, did all that the King had asked of him. The people were happy and the love for their great King and each other continued to grow. The times were not always easy, but the young man was full of serious joy and reminded the people every day of their King’s love.   

After many days of battle, the King made a surprise return to His Kingdom with a small entourage of men. As the small group was approaching the great fortress city, the King’s son sprinted down the long causeway to meet the King. The two men embraced with the same passion as the father and the returning prodigal son, and then they walked side-by-side through the city gates and into the cheering throngs of their people. 

As the two sat down together over dinner, the King said, “Son, my visit here is short. The great fight is not over. I wanted to come to give you and all my people a special comfort. A time of refreshing. You have been so faithful to the great task I gave you. When I leave again, your task will remain the same. Share your joy and my love with the people so that their joy and love may be full.” The King paused, his eyes welling with tears, “It is so good to be with you, son, I love you so much and long for the time we can be together again.”   

The son thought back to the many years in which he had spent nearly every waking moment with the King. They were so close. As an orphan and thief, he knew he didn’t deserve even one moment of the King’s attention. The King had saved him in literally ever way. “Father, I love you more than anything else in this world. I long to be together like we were before the great war. When we are separated, it is like a part of me is missing. But I know the task you’ve given me, and I will be faithful.” 

After dinner, the pair decided to do what they had done a thousand times before and began to walk along the great wall surrounding the city gazing at the bright light of the stars. Both, in their own ways, were transported to another place as their thoughts meandered from memory to memory of their years together. As they walked along, at about the same time, they both spotted a strange motion further along the wall. They remained silent and moved closer. It was a man waving flags and facing out away from the city in the direction of the war. As they watched, it became obvious the man was using the flags as code or signal. The King recognized the man as one of the soldiers that had returned with his entourage. And sickeningly, he realized that this man was a traitor, that he was signaling the enemy with intelligence about the fortress city. The King’s son realized the same thing at about the same time. 

Impetuously, the young man charged forward to stop the traitor. The rebel turned at the last moment and a rough collision turned into a fierce wrestling match. The soldier was stronger, but the King’s son had the energy of a greater passion. As the two grappled, the King approached, yelling for them to stop. Neither did. The fight continued until both men were near exhaustion. One last locking of arms, twisting, turning, pulling, slipping, both men lost their balance and slipped over the low ledge of the wall. Both found themselves weakly clinging by their fingers, hanging on for dear life to the dusty rock. Jagged rocks far below. 

The King raced over. It was clear he had only seconds before the inevitable. He went to his son. The young man looked up, gritting his teeth with strain, he said, “Save the traitor first, that’s who we are.” The King didn’t hesitate. He immediately went to the other man, grabbed his arms, and started pulling. After much exertion, the King dragged the traitor back over the wall. The King looked quickly toward his son. There were no fingers on the ledge. The King had never heard a sound. No scream. A silent sacrifice.   

The King was sorrowful beyond expression and yet simultaneously full of joy. He sat down next to the traitor. The traitor looked at the King. The traitor was speechless. He knew something unique had just happened, something that was far beyond normal humanity, and he quietly asked, “why?” The King paused, and said, “love.” “My son had received true love from me from the time he was young, and I knew his true love for me. He lived to show our love to our people. It was his whole life. My son was willing to die so that you also would know true love, and I was willing to let my son die for that same thing. You are my enemy, and I saved your life at an indescribable price. You now know true love. You now have experienced it. And, like my son, you now can return that love and share it with my people. You, my former enemy, can now be part of my family. Will you spend your life in service to the very love that saved you?” 

The man wept and stammered through tears, “But I was a traitor, I don’t understand!” The King looked deeply into his eyes, and said, “True love gives you what you don’t deserve and you, as a traitor and my enemy, deserved only death. I gave you life. You must understand that my love is everything. It is why my people follow me. It is why they have joy. My love is the foundation for our entire existence. My love is life. It defines the way we live. It is the essence of who I am. You are now great evidence of that love. Be part of my family. Be a witness through your story. Spread my love, and all my people will benefit. And so will you. 

This former enemy knew Serious Love that day. May all of us former enemies, now sons and daughters, revel in the sacrificial love of the King and His Son!