3rd Rate Romance

2 Corinthians 5:14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; 15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Often you can learn a a lot about yourself and hard truths about sin from secular music. One of my oldy but goodie favorites is "third rate romance", by the Amazing Rhythm Aces and covered later by Sammy Kershaw. The song is about a scandalous affair of two people that are looking only for one thing. A quick fix of their version of love- sex in a hotel fueled by booze.

Sittin' in a tiny table in a ritzy restaurant
She was starin' at her coffee cup
He was tryin' to keep his courage up
By applyin' booze

And talk was small when they talked at all
They both knew what they wanted
There was no need to talk about it
They were old enough to scope it out
And keep it loose

She said, "You don't look like my type
But I guess you'll do"
Third rate romance
Low rent rendezvous
And he said, "I'll even tell you that I love you
If you want me to"
Third rate romance
Low rent rendezvous

If you have heard the song before, you are probably humming and singing along. Its catchy. It also is on to a bigger truth in us. Many of us, including myself, have confused love with temporary fulfillment of our desires of the things of this world and while that includes sex, it is certainly not limited to it. Perhaps what is more alarming is that for thirty years, the heart of this song perfectly describes my relationship with Christ. The scariest part is I thought I was a Christian, and I wasn't. i was just trying to use Christ to fulfill my temporary desires.

Look at the words that describe a "3rd rate romance, low rent rendezvous". Talk was small, when they talked at all, they both knew what they wanted. That is a perfect description of my then so-called prayer life. Rare, and when it happened, it was me asking for stuff from Him, not praising Him. I knew what I wanted, and so did HE! In my eyes there was no need to talk further, I had it all in control and life was going according to my plan (not His). Why he did not strike me down can only be called Grace!

Perhaps the ugliest truth that describes a person who is religiously lost is "Jesus, you don't look like my type, but I guess you'll do. I will even tell you that I love you, if you want me to". Oh how I blasphemed His pure love with half hearted words that some one had told me to say. I truly cringe at Jesus's Grace and mercy being met with my invitation of a low rent rendezvous. I wanted quick fixes in a cheap hotel. He wants eternal love that controls me from the inside of my soul outward , and Praise God -He has it now.

That is exactly what Paul says in the above verses. Christ's love controls us. Controls us. We are captivated by Him not in some cheap, boozed up, lustful way, but in a scandalous Love affair that is Holy and never ends. The reason for His control over us is simple. He is love. He defined love. His work on the Cross and rising form the grave is the only reason we know what Love truly means. His Love gives us life. It is Life.

So how do we know if we are in love, or just in some 3rd rate romance with Christ? Check out verse 15: and he died for all, that those that live might no longer live for themselves, but for Him who for their sake died and was raised! His work is done and only offers a pure and Holy love. We can either accept that and live for Him, turn from our desires, and understand the beauty that it is to be controlled by Christ, or we can pretend we are in love and settle for a 3rd rate romance that leads us to death.

Where are you in this picture? Is your talk with Christ small? Is it at all? Have you told Him "You don't look like my type but I GUESS you will do? What about the gut wrencher, "I'll even tell you that I love you, if you want me to".