Relationships: Where Does God fit in? (part 3)

When I think of the concept of what being a best friend means to me and how it relates to God, one song comes to mind: Best Friend by Hillsong. But before we delve into this correlation and get too far ahead of ourselves, let's take the time to define the meaning of the word 'best friend' through the lens of human understanding. Thus far, we have outlined the basic differences between an acquaintance and a friend and established a finite similarity between the two by acknowledging the fact that they are both constrained by a limited capacity to love. However, it would be a fallacy for me to draw the conclusion that best friends, within the realm of man, will 100% of the time distinguish themselves as a type of relationship that successfully illustrates and executes true unconditional love. Suffice it to say, best friends are more than capable of ending such a relationship just as much as acquaintances and friends can; but despite this discouraging reality that life is never as perfect as we would imagine in to be, one important aspect behind the essence of best friends sets itself apart from that of acquaintances and friends. This is, the ability to love without limitations and to reveal the very most intimate portrayal of one's heart to the other: given that the most optimal circumstances are still yet present or un-compromised.

Unconditional love within the confines of human understanding could very well not be unconditional love at all. This is probably because unconditional love can mean so many different things to so many different people and because humans will, most likely, never truly be able to comprehend the magnitude of God's unconditional love for mankind. Consequently, I would be ignorant if I was to say there was only one right definition for unconditional love within the parameters of man's limited understanding; however, for the sake of progressing with my train of thought, I shall try and focus on the lowest common denominator of its definition. So what does unconditional love mean and why aren't acquaintances and friends capable of portraying it quite as eloquently as best friends are able to? The answer is simple, because the unconditional of love found between best friends is much closer to accurately portraying God's unconditional love than acquaintances and friends will ever be capable of showing. Why else would there be distinguishing factors that set apart these three types of relationships and why else would best friends be much closer to each other than acquaintances? In essence, though all three relationships within human understanding are not capable of providing the correct formula, some relationships are much closer to solving the equation than others. For this very reason, we have come one step closer to the correct answer by gradually leading up to the dynamic relationship found between best friends.

Best friends sometime share such an intimate bond that not even blood could succeed in melding. However, the question I would like to pose, is what makes this bond so seemingly unbreakable? Why are some best friends willing to go to the extremes of even sacrificing one's own life for the other? What compels one best friend to put the needs of the other before his/her own? How come some best friends are able to overlook even the most obscene character flaws? At what point in the relationship is a person able to reveal his/her deepest and darkest secrets without hesitation or fear of being judged or rejected? What enables one best friend to forgive and forget even the most heartbreaking betrayals committed by the other best friend? Sometimes, we have no idea why we are able to do the things we do for our best friends; but yet, we do it anyways. Now ask yourself this. Could you see yourself doing those things for an acquaintance or a friend? If you are, I adamantly commend you with the utmost humility; because you haven't just gotten closer to God's definition of unconditional love, you have hit the nail on the head.

I believe Best friends become best friends primarily because of two main attributes. I believe a friend becomes a best friend when he/she is able to become completely vulnerable to the other and is also willing to reveal even the most cherished aspects of his/her love: which is a love that has been reserved specifically for the people that are willing to reciprocate these two attributes with the same level of intensity in return. Many times, we obtain these two attributes with our best friends so naturally that we don't even realize the level of intimacy that we share with them. This level of intimacy then becomes the very essence that defines the relationship you share with your best friend. Once this level of intimacy has been achieved, your "cup" seizes to be a cup; and instead, transforms into a fountain: a fountain that knows no boundaries and demands no conditions. However, just because this is the most ideal portrayal of what best friends are, it does not necessarily mean that every "best friend" relationship will illustrate the same picture that I have painted for us today. This depiction is merely my own illustration of what I personally believe to be the essence of what it means to be a best friend; however as I said earlier, everyone's definition is different.

Now wouldn't it be nice if we could look at our own relationships with God and confidently say that we are truly best friends with Him? What would our relationships with God look like if this type of relationship was the most accurate portrayal of how we would define our relationship with Him? When I ask myself this very question, I see that I still have a long - very very long - way to go before I can proclaim such a relationship with 100% confidence. However, the beauty of being best friends with God is this, we can always progress toward a greater goal or purpose without having to start back from square one every time we fall short: and that's because God's understanding far surpasses our own when it comes to truly comprehending the meaning of unconditional love. With this in mind, take a moment to read the lyrics of the song I mentioned in the beginning of this entry.

Best Friend

Have you heard of the one called savior?

Have you heard of His perfect love?

Have you heard of the one in Heaven?

Have you heard how He gave his Son?

Well I have found this love,

And I believe in the Son. Show me your way.

I believe in the one called Savior.

I believe He's the Risen one.

I believe that I'll live forever.

I believe that the King will come.

Cause I have found this love.

And I believe in the Son. Show me your way.

Jesus, you are my best friend and you will always be

And nothing will ever change that.

Jesus, you are my best friend and you will always be

And nothing will ever change that.  

No nothing will ever change that

No nothing will ever change that

No nothing will ever change that

No nothing will ever change that    

Now. How much sweeter would these lyrics mean to us if we could sing it without an inkling of doubt that it was true in our very own lives? If this is something that you truly yearn for, the next entry should be very juicy, exciting, discouraging, and encouraging all at the same time; because, we will take a closer look at what it really means to be best friends with God.