Beautiful, Eternal, and Full of Meaning
In a vision, I found myself in a heavenly garden, marked by a sign reading Le Jardin de l'Amour (The Garden of Love). The French words added a romantic touch, perfectly capturing the essence of this place.
As I continued forward, I came upon another sign, Le Parc des Amoureux (Lover's Park). A white bench, surrounded by fragrant red and white flowers, created an atmosphere that was both inviting and intimate.
My wife and I sat on the bench, my hand resting just above hers; they were not quite touching, but the current of love flowing between us was intense and deeply fulfilling.
In that moment, our entire love story seemed to come to life: how we met, how we fell in love, the emotional and physical intimacy we had shared, our dreams, and the many sacrifices we had made for each other. It was beautiful, eternal, and full of meaning.
As I savored the experience, I realized that despite how wonderful this moment was, our love story on Earth had never reached its full potential. There had been times when we missed opportunities to love each other more deeply—opportunities that could never be reclaimed, but would have made this moment even greater.
As our time in Lover's Park came to an end, we parted ways. Accepting that our paths were different, I still wished that after sharing so much time together on Earth we could have enjoyed exploring Heaven together as well. I was comforted though, knowing that the Garden of Love would remain a place where we could always meet again.
Reflecting on the eternal significance of marriage, I felt that the vision was a call for us, and all married couples, to make the most of our time on Earth, living our love story in a way that allows it to flourish and reach its fullest potential.
In God's Image
The love within marriage is designed to reflect the image of God. The wife, created to help her husband, embodies the empowering qualities of Holy Spirit, while the husband's sacrificial love for his wife mirrors how Jesus loves the Church (Genesis 2:18; Ephesians 5:25–33). (Photo via Unsplash)
The oneness the married couple shares with God echoes the oneness of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit's collaboration in creating all that exists. As both spouses invest in each other's gifts and callings, their union with God will produce far more than they could achieve alone.
The legacy of the married couple will be the eternal fruit of the love they share, both for each other and for God and His creation.
All About Love
Modern marriage literature often highlights the importance of "feeling loved," but it tends to overlook the deeper essence of true love. As I searched the Scriptures, seeking to understand what love truly is, I concluded that it revolves around two intimately connected concepts: life and maturity.
In Genesis 20:13, Abraham is one of the first people to mention the word "love" in the Bible (see Strong's G2617). He asks his wife Sarah to demonstrate her love by claiming he is her brother. In doing so, Sarah, a woman of great beauty, would save her husband's life from a king who might kill him to take her as his own.
In John 3:16, God's love for the world is revealed through His act of provision, so that we would not perish but have eternal life.
In Genesis 2:18–23, God shows His love for Adam by providing him with a wife, making him complete.
In Luke 2:52, God's love is demonstrated as His Son grows (matures) in wisdom, stature, and favor with both God and man.
Reading the Bible with the understanding that God is love, and that true love produces life and maturity, guides us on our journey of learning to love. This love transcends fleeting emotions or personal satisfaction; it is about life, growth, and completeness.
Love Is Worth the Effort
Many obstacles—such as past hurts, unhealthy attachments, and lack of trust—can cloud our ability to fully receive the love that both God and our spouse offer. Often, the desire to "feel loved" takes precedence over the true purpose of love. In 1 Corinthians 13, Paul urges us to move beyond childish, immature ways and offers guidance on how to love. (Photo via Unsplash)
Learning to find contentment, even when our needs aren't fully met, is an important aspect of spiritual growth. Paul discovered the secret of being content in every situation, whether in plenty or in need (Philippians 4:11–13).
Resisting our desire to criticize and control our spouse is essential. We must appreciate and learn from each other's strengths, using them to overcome our own weaknesses, and grow into the best versions of ourselves. As Jesus teaches, we must first remove the plank from our own eye before we can help remove the speck from our brother's eye (Matthew 7:5).
Understanding that our spouse may not be ready to receive the love we offer helps manage our expectations. True love, as Paul reminds us, is patient and kind (1 Corinthians 13:4).
We are called to love deeply, sacrificially, and consistently, even when our spouse does not fully embrace that love. It's easy to get caught up in the desire to feel loved, but true love is a choice; it's a decision to give without expectation, to serve without condition, and to remain committed regardless of the response.
Every act of love we share has eternal significance. Choose to love with purpose, patience, and faith, trusting that your love is eternal in nature.
I cannot claim there is a literal Garden of Love in Heaven, though it's possible the Garden of Eden was meant to mirror it. One thing I know for sure is that everything we do out of love, whether for our spouse, children, neighbors, or especially for God, is eternal in nature and always worth the effort.
"And now these three remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love." (1 Corinthians 13:13)
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Pierre Goulart, Founder
Jubilee Sounds
Email: JubileeSounds@proton.me
Website: JubileeSounds.com
Pierre Goulart is a worship leader who has been involved in various church leadership roles for the last thirty years. He wrote, recorded, and produced the Canadian Gospel Music Award nominee instrumental album Jubilee Sounds. On October 17, 2014, he had an encounter with the Lord that led him to seek how to align our lives with God's desire to see the earth being restored to its original purpose.
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