The Light in the Darkness - How Reading a Vampire Book Taught Me More About Faith - Take the Plunge

(Click for previous chapter: The Final Leap - A Formal Proposal)

What about marriage frightened Bella?

After falling in love with a vampire and running with werewolves, what about the big plunge caused her to behave like a scared rabbit?

Well, besides her heart’s indecision and Jacob’s stake in her affections despite loving Edward, the experience of her parents’ relationship sullied her view on marriage.

It only takes one bad experience to alter our thinking or call truth into doubt.

Even though her relationship didn’t resemble her parents’ in the least, except for her youth, even though her mother was happily remarried, and even though she and Edward faced trials together and survived, even though she loved him almost to death and he proved likewise for her, her one experience of growing up in a broken home was enough to prevent her from having faith in the institution and benefits of covenant marriage.

Funny how one experience can stand up so strongly against an army of facts. Experience is a powerful force, a memorable teacher, an effective warning. The problem is that it has everything to do with senses. And we’re called to walk by faith, not by sight.

Faith is risky. They don’t call it a “leap” for nothing.

But putting faith into any and everything is unwise. Jumping off every bridge will cause damage. The pivotal point of faith is in Whom or What we’re entrusting our faith. The key is the faithfulness of object of our faith.

In marriage, the risk lies in trusting the other to be faithful. The security comes in your own commitment to be faithful. It takes both to succeed. Sadly, humans don’t always do their part, and relationships suffer. We live in a broken world and only through faith in God can our human relationships survive and prosper.

But when we’re talking marriage to our Perfect Lover, there’s nothing to fear because He is 100% faithful, actually incapable of breaking faith with us. He is truth and love and perfection. His faithfulness and love endure forever.

We have to believe that before accepting His proposal, or else the trials and wilderness journeys and hot spots of life won’t make sense, feel more like betrayal. But if we believe with all our heart that Jesus truly is faithful, then we’ll press into Him for comfort instead of deny His embrace in bitterness.

Yes, human experience plants doubt, if seen from the world’s point of view. Again, it’s a choice. But why would you not want to choose hope? The promise of joy and protection and love? The fear of disappointment robs a soul of life. Conquering that fear, with Jesus’ help, will produce the freedom needed for abundant life.

By the end of New Moon when Edward proposes, Bella already loves him and accepts now that he loves her too. Love is not in question. Trust has been re-established, faith has been strengthened. Commitment is the issue. He’s asking a lot, she’s asking a lot. She doesn’t realize what unexplored and wonderful depths of relationship remain on the other side of covenant.

In chapter 15, when Bella’s on the top of the cliff, toeing the edge, looking down in the swirling waters far below, she experiences fear. She takes a leap of faith, completely unsure what will happen when she hits the water. When she surfaces, she’s surprised to feel exhilaration. She’s survived! And she’s glad that she jumped. Sure, there’s an undertow – no relationship experience will be free of all danger. But taking the plunge set into motion everything that brought her back to her Perfect Lover.

This amazing song from Sidewalk Prophets explains it better than I can. Here are the words, because each one (in my opinion) is so important. I hope you take a minute to listen by CLICKING HERE then clicking “iLike” at the top of the search. (Sorry no video. But you can follow along to the words!)

If I saw You on the street

And You said come and follow me

But I had to give up everything

All I once held dear and all of my dreams

Would I love You enough to let go?

Or would my love run dry

When You asked for my life?

When did love become unmoving?

When did love become unconsuming?

Forgetting what the world has told me

Father of love, You can have me, You can have me.

If You’re all You claim to be

Then I’m not losing anything

So I will crawl upon my knees

Just to know the joy of suffering

I will love You enough to let go

Lord, I give You my life

I give You my life.

I want to be where You are

I’m running into Your arms

And I will never look back

So Jesus, here is my heart.

Well, Wednesday is the big day!!! Read my Eclipse review right here on Dry Ground! See you then!

(click for Eclipse movie review)

(photos by photobucket.com)