Would God Still Love Me the Same?
“Locked Away”, by the brother duo, R. City, with Adam Levine, is a song that I’m sure many of you are familiar with. It was one of the biggest pop hits of the summer of 2015. The lyrics seem to hit on the most basic of human desires…to be loved unconditionally and to have someone who will never leave us. Being truly known is a scary thing. We can wonder, would that person still love us if they knew everything about us?
“If I got locked away
And we lost it all today
Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?
If I showed you my flaws
If I couldn't be strong
Tell me honestly, would you still love me the same?” – R. City
I love the song. I can’t listen to it without getting teary eyed. I read an interview with R. City, where Thomas Theron explained that the song was based on true events. It’s about his parents, who have been together over 36 years. The brother’s Dad was sent away to jail for five years, but their mom stuck with him. They explained how their mom set a strong example and- that’s the standard they set for relationships.
///
I love the song, the story behind it, and the sentiment. But I need to say, if you’re looking for someone who will always love you, who will never leave you, who knows all your flaws and weaknesses and loves you the same, Jesus is the only one who can live up to that standard 100% of the time.
God is love. Jesus, God’s son, who is real and living today, is the flesh and blood example of that love. He already knows everything about you. He lived, died, and was resurrected for you. He wants a relationship with you. He loves you with a perfect love. There's nothing you can do to make him love you any more or any less. He will never leave you. That’s the truth.
“No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:37-39
///
My husband and I had the verse above read at our wedding. We wanted to acknowledge that this kind of perfect love comes from God. It’s our source and our standard- how we’re loved and how we’re called to love others. We know that we will not always live up to the standard- but we’ll try, through God’s strength. When we fail to live up to that standard, we can rest in the knowledge that Christ’s sacrifice covered that failure and brings us forgiveness. In turn, since we’ve been forgiven, we’re to offer that forgiveness to others when they fail us.
We can rely on a love that will never fail, in Christ Jesus our Lord.
“Now tell me would you really ride for me?
Baby tell me would you die for me?
Would you spend your whole life with me?
Would you be there to always hold me down?
Tell me would you really cry for me?
Baby don't lie to me
If I didn't have anything
I wanna know would you stick around?” – R.City
The reason I get teary when I listen to this song is because when I hear the lyrics, I also hear the answers to those questions, and I’m filled with gratitude and awe. Yes, Jesus really would die for me. He already did (Romans 4:25). He would cry for me. When I’m weak, he loves me the same (Romans 5:6). It goes the same for you.
Here’s the video. Listen to the song if you have an extra moment. If you look to Jesus for the answer to answer these questions, you will never be disappointed. He already loves you- whether you acknowledge him or not. If you want to have a relationship with him and enjoy the freedom and forgiveness from sins that he offers as a free gift of grace, it's as simple as acknowledging that you have sinned (Romans 3:23), asking for forgiveness, and making a commitment to live for Jesus.
