by Pastor Mark Downey
Today, I would like to share the greatest love story that few have heard. Sometimes God reveals the truth in ways that have not been previously told. Past generations have gotten so caught up in religion that by omission, the greatest love story has not been told. But, once it is revealed, I think it's a truth that is earth shaking and one that can entirely change a person's life and understanding of the Bible.
When Moses officiated the covenant ceremony between God and the Israelites at Mt. Sinai, it was a wedding and they were pronounced man and wife. An entire nation of blood relatives, composed of 12 tribes or large families, became the bride and wife of God. They were known collectively as Israel and should not be confused with the modern application by the same name. In fact, God still loves these descendants of ancient Israel, but they became, as Jesus called them, the lost sheep. Our ancestors lost their identity as Israel when, as the wife of God, they went whoring after strange gods of alien cultures and, as a result, God divorced them.
They were deported to Assyria and were in bondage for so many years that they could no longer remember the covenant made at Mt. Sinai with Moses. God expected to be loved, honored and obeyed. In learning about this love story, we can see that God still loves us and wants us to love Him. He defines love as "if you love Me, keep My commandments."
If we fast forward to the New Testament, we find God made Himself into the man Jesus Christ, the Word made flesh and dwelt among us, and that now there was a New Covenant which was still exclusively made for His people Israel. Well, what happened to the old Israelites in Assyria? Did they go back to their homes in what we call the Holy Lands of the Middle East? Did they just disappear from the pages of history? Or did God so love them, that He relocated them into what was to become the western Christian nations of Europe? I don't have time today to present you with all of the evidence, but that's exactly what God planned. There are many articles on our website that discusses that evidence: "The Adamic Creation" or "The Flood of Noah" are a couple good places to start.
Jesus ordered His disciples to go only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. And the disciples found them. It was the nations of Europe who fulfilled prophecy as the people returning to their former lover and husband. Think about this historical fact. We would not have Christianity today were it not for these lost sheep of the house of Israel, a long lost love being found again in the gospel of Jesus Christ and their love of the Word of God and making it the law of the land to love, honor and obey.
There are forces of darkness that do not want this love story told. For in so doing, the scriptures say there will be a remarriage, called 'the marriage supper of the Lamb", between the groom Jesus Christ and His bride, who has made herself ready. The beautiful part of this story is that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son for us. "Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends" (John 15:12).
How does the true Israelite today prepare themselves for marriage with God? By believing in His love and the sacrifice He made for you. When all the elements of this greatest love story come together, the Kingdom of God will become an established reality on earth as it is in heaven. It is already in our hearts.
God made many covenants with the same people. They all have to do with being blessed of God. In the Abrahamic covenant found in Genesis 12, God says, "I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee, and in thee shall all the families of the earth be blessed." The importance of this message is that we don't contradict who God loves and bless the wrong people.
