As at the first...

Remember how it was at first?
When you first met Him?

Ah...the lover of our souls.

His love (truly we discovered) was better than all other highs.

Let him kiss me with the kisses of his mouth:
for thy love is better than wine.
Song of Songs 1.2

And then we found that this Christian stuff wasn't so easy.

After a wonderful season with our "first love",
we entered into
a season of cold and darkness
where we wondered what the heck was going on.

I sought him whom my soul loveth,
I sought him,but I found him not.
Song of Songs 3.1

There were times where the pain of this relationship,
and all of its difficulty,
wrought a brokenness within.

Oh that I knew where I might find him.
Job 23.3

Would it not be wonderful if it could be as at the first?
When we were first enthralled with his loveliness and his grace.

Well, allow me be to be like one who comes from the mountains
bearing glad tidings. (Isaiah 52.7) That is exactly what God is doing
for many in this hour.

After the initial time of faith followed by the testing and prison of hope
there comes this season of love
where God promises to be to us like he was at the beginning.

Don't just take my word for it though- look at what God Himself has promised:

I will cause the captivity of Judah and the captivity of Israel to return
and I will build them as at the first.... And it shall be to me a name of joy,
a praise and an honor before all the nations of the earth,
which shall hear all the good that I do unto them.
And they shall fear and tremble for all the goodness
and for all the prosperity
that I procure unto it.
Jeremiah 33.7,9

Now I know that that was written to Israel but I have found
the same principle is found in promise to the church.
God is coming to us as at the firs and better.
He has saved the best wine for last.

Before, we had heard about him with the hearing of ear.
Now, like Job, after much suffering we say,

...now my eye sees you.
Job 42.5

I am come into my garden,my sister, my spouse:
I have gathered my myrrh with my spice,
I have eaten my honeycomb with my honey,
I have drunk my wine with my milk:
Eat, O friends, drink, yea drink abundantly, O my beloved.
Song of Songs 5.1

After seasons of faith and hope there comes a time of love-
a day of the gladness of our hearts
where the children of promise become
the mature sons and daughters of fulfillment.