An Everlasting Love

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My son-in-law and daughter provided Lizzy and I with a vacation to two of Europe’s great cities: London and Paris. My daughter, Chandler, planned every detail. She has a future as a travel planner if she wants one. This trip reminded me of God’s promise to us for love everlasting.

Her ability is likely due to planning mission trips. . . including one for two thousand people. . . to Nicaragua, Honduras, Haiti, Indonesia, Peru, Ecuador, and India. Did you know the plane ride to India is 22 hours? I can’t imagine it. We traveled home from Paris on a plane for nine hours. It seemed like an eternity.

London Layover

Actually, while traveling to in London, Chandler told us of a mishap that caused her and the missionaries she was responsible for to be stranded outside of London’s Heathrow Airport overnight. There had been a layover in London and due to problems with transportation back to the airport, they had missed their flight. Interestingly, the officials actually lock up the airport overnight in London. So, if there is a problem with your flight, you are on your own. This is a detail that I’m glad that she did not tell Liz and I about until she was safely home.

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Chandler and the missionary group were sitting on the ground in a circle and Chandler was counting people to make sure she had everyone. When she counted one more than was supposed to be in her group, she was concerned. After investigating, she discovered that a homeless girl had joined their circle. She figured it was likely a safe place to spend the night. A safe place to spend the night? This homeless person no doubt sensed the protection of God on this group. God’s word says, “I have loved you with an everlasting love. . . an unfailing love.  I have drawn you unto myself” (Jeremiah 31:3). Praise God! No matter where you are in the world know that your heavenly father is watching out for you.

I Love History

London was my favorite. Chandler played a game with the boys on the long taxi ride from the airport to our hotel. “What is your favorite part about traveling?” When it was my turn, I did not need to answer. She knows me pretty well. “Of course, Big Daddy’s [my grandpa name] favorite part is the history.” True, I love history.  In London, I love the rich history that goes back thousands of years. Not like our history that only goes back a couple of hundred years. 

In large part, the history of England is our history. Did you know the recorded history of England goes back to the year 55 BC when the Romans invaded the island? The conquerors of the world got half way up the island of Britannica to the border of what we know today as Scotland and stopped. When they encountered the Picts, they decided these people are crazy They are barbarians. So, they built a wall to keep them out. It didn’t work, but the wall is still there today. It is called Hadrian’s wall, named for the emperor Hadrian who built it in AD 122. Unlike Hadrian, we need not be fearful of the enemy.  Jesus said, I give you authority over the enemy, nothing shall hurt you (Luke 10:19).

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A French King

My favorite part of the trip was visiting the Tower of London. It was Built on the foundation of a Roman wall by William the Conqueror. He was a French medieval king who beat the British at the battle of Hastings. He wanted the locals to know that he wasn’t leaving, so he built an imposing fortification which still stands today. This was during the times of knights and suits of armor. You can see all of this in the Tower. Many of the early kings of England were French and did not even speak the English language, including one of the most famous, Richard the Lion Hearted. He was beloved by the people mostly because his brother, King John, was so cruel.  

Yes, this is the John who Robin Hood fought against, stealing from the rich and giving to the poor. While Richard was off fighting in the great Crusades, John was terrorizing the people of England. Actually, Richard had come to London for his coronation, spent a few months and never returned. But, this is fortunate for us, because at one point, the barons or leaders of England were so unhappy with John that they forced him to sign the Magna Carta in AD 1215. This is the basis for our current constitution and bill of rights. The Magna Carta was the first document guaranteeing that anyone other than the King had any rights at all. Because of Jesus, all things pertaining to life and godliness are ours (2 Peter 1:3).

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Yes, Love Everlasting

London was magnificent. We walked across the Tower Bridge and were quickly told, it is not the London Bridge. We saw Buckingham Palace and Westminster Abby, shopped at Harrod’s department store, rode in the Eye of London, rode on the “Tube” and double decker buses, and. . . we did a lot of walking.  

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After London, we boarded a train for Paris. The train travels through the Chunnel, which means a tunnel under the ocean. . . at least the English Channel part. The tunnel is 250 feet below ground and the train travels 200 mph. The actual channel is only 26 miles. I didn’t see a thing; I mostly played with my granddaughter and thought about love everlasting.

© 2019 Chuck Locklear All rights reserved

Also, see Unconditional Love.