We visited Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria, Germany last week. It is the quintessential fairytale castle, inspiring Disney’s Cinderella Castle & featuring in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. Last time we visited, Marienbruke (Mary’s bridge)was under renovation preventing the idyllic viewpoint of the castle.
This time however, the bridge was open & we queued to cross it & admired the enchanting view. As I gazed at the castle, I noticed that there were a few love-locks on the cantilever bridge (& many more at nearby Lech Falls.)
Love-locks are a growing tradition spreading across Europe of sweethearts attaching padlocks to bridges as a symbol of unbreakable love. Sometimes couples inscribe their names onto the padlock or throw the keys into nearby water as a symbol of their true love.
The Bible says:
‘Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.’
(1 Corinthians 13:7 NLT)
Of course, human love is far from perfect. Relationships split. Hearts break. Love dissolves.
But God has declared:
“I have loved you with an everlasting love”(Jeremiah 31:3 NIV)
I ask myself, why does God love me? Why does He love you?
‘He loved us not because we are lovable but because He is love’
(CS Lewis)
We may be plagued by doubts that God loves us- but our unbelief doesn’t alter the fact that He does. God is love- & He really loves us!
And when we trust in God, absolutely nothing can separate us from His unbreakable love.
The apostle Paul declared:
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love.
Neither death nor life,
neither angels nor demons,
neither our fears for today
nor our worries about tomorrow-
not even the powers of hell
can separate us from God’s love.
No power in the sky above or in the earth below-
indeed, nothing in all creation
will ever be able to separate us
from the love of God
that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
(Romans 8:38-39 NLT)
Our hearts are locked into the everlasting love of God forever! And His love never fails!
Blessings,
Ruth x
Blessed! 