作曲家貝多芬所寫的一封情書，可說是歷史上最戲劇性又最神秘的情書之一，直到1827年他去世後才被人發現。這封情書看似寫得倉促，但字裡行間流露滿滿的情意，例如：「我永遠的摯愛……若不能與妳共度此生，長相廝守，我此生不過行屍走肉。」令人惋惜的是，這封信似乎從未寄出，而收信人至今仍是個謎。

這封情書被人視為寶貴，因他們能體會貝多芬對愛的渴望。我們常在許多人、事、物與種種經歷中尋找愛與滿足，卻無法填補內心的空缺。但上帝深愛與祂立約的子民，這份愛遠勝於短暫易逝的浪漫愛情，祂為了全人類的緣故，向祂的子民展現了偉大的愛。上帝透過先知耶利米宣告：「我以永遠的愛愛你，因此我以慈愛吸引你」（耶利米書31章3節）。因著上帝浩大無窮的愛，祂應許百姓將蒙恩和得享安息（2節），祂也要重新建立他們（4節）。儘管以色列百姓一再拒絕和悖逆上帝，但上帝依然堅定地要引領他們回轉歸向祂（9節）。

千百年後，在我們還未回應上帝的愛之前，耶穌就因這「永遠的愛」而甘願為罪人受死（羅馬書5章8節）。我們無需苦苦尋求愛，或竭力去贏取別人的愛，因為上帝早已用永遠的愛來愛我們了！

One of the most dramatic and mysterious love letters of all time was penned by composer Ludwig van Beethoven and was only discovered after his death in 1827. The hastily handwritten letter is full of passionate lines like, “My eternally beloved . . . I can only live either wholly with you or not at all.” Tragically, it appears the letter was never sent, and his intended recipient remains unknown. 

Beethoven’s letter is treasured by readers who can identify with his desperate yearning for love. We seek love and fulfillment in many people, things, and experiences that cannot fully satisfy. But far greater than a fleeting romance is the love of God for His covenant people, to whom He showed great love for the sake of all people. Through the prophet Jeremiah, God declared, “I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness” (Jeremiah 31:3). Because of His great love, God promised a future of rest and favor (v. 2) and the restoration of anything that was broken (v. 4). Despite their repeated rejection and rebellion, God vowed to bring them back to Himself (v. 9).

Many years later, that same everlasting love motivated Jesus to endure death for sinners, even before we ever returned His love (Romans 5:8). We don’t have to search for love or try to earn it. We’re already loved with an everlasting love!