His Magnetic Pull

But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved. (Hebrews 10:39)

I wonder—could our heightened state of longing for things to be good again be far more than a response to trauma, chronic disappointment, and deprivation? Might it actually be pointing to something wonderful?

If the heavens are thrilling as they stage for the return of Christ, if the battle on earth is raging, if Christ himself is standing at the door —wouldn’t our hearts somehow recognize it? He who is our heart of hearts, our deepest desire, and most sincere longing, is drawing near —nearer than ever before. This would be especially moving for those in whom Christ dwells. Maybe — just maybe — our hearts are responding to the imminent return of Jesus while our rational minds continue to dismiss the thought.

When the moon comes closest to the earth in its orbital swing — what is called the perigee of the moon — the gravitational pull on the earth is strongest. A few times each year, the perigee coincides with a full moon and the gravitational attraction is strong indeed, causing tidal upheaval and flooding. Many scientists believe that the moon was once a part of the earth, that it broke away during a catastrophic event and now orbits like an estranged lover. When it draws near, the earth feels its presence deeply.

Wouldn’t our hearts do the same?

This is the greatest love story ever told, the Sacred Romance. As the Hero approaches from his long sojourn, his bride knows in her heart that he’s coming — like the lovers in the Van Morrison song "Crazy Love" who can feel each other’s heartbeat “for a thousand miles.”

Compasses are known to behave strangely as they near magnetic north. A compass induced to start spinning while close to what has pulled it all these years will continue spinning until something slows and stops it. Perhaps all this crazy and erratic human behavior in this hour might indicate the loss of bearing that comes when something strong begins to overwhelm our internal compasses. Someone is approaching.

What sort of magnetic pull would the approach of our Lord and Master have on the hearts that love him?

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