Unfailing Love

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Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good.
His love endures forever.
 Give thanks to the God of gods.
His love endures forever.
 Give thanks to the Lord of lords:
His love endures forever.
Psalm 136:1-3
   I was reading Psalm 136 earlier and remembering when I had to memorize it for school years ago. It was a personal favorite because every other line is "His love endures forever." What a simple one to memorize! But the Holy Spirit nudged me into a gentle realization; I had memorized but never believed it. It's a simple yet profound concept: His love endures forever. For me, for you- His love endures forever. The whole Psalm declares all these triumphs of God from His creation of the world, to His salvation of Israel from Egypt and their other captivities; but verses 23-24 packed the most punch to me. 
"He remembered us in our low estate; His love endures forever.
And freed us from our enemies; His love endures forever."
I know for me, I can read these words and think I get them, but when I try to work it out in my head it comes out sounding more like:
When I've gotten everything done today; His love endures forever.
When I am the shining role model of Christianity; His love endures forever.
When my family has no troubles or issues; His love endures forever.
And on and on it goes, in that vein of perfection. Somehow I base God's love on what I can bring to Him. What He is really saying is:
When you slip and fall; My love endures forever.
When your family is cracked and in pain; My love endures forever.
When pain and loss feel like constant companions; My love endures forever.
When you cannot take another step; My love endures forever.
So often we think God's love is something that we can only get if we achieve perfection. What a lie! It says "His love endures forever." There is no time cap, no perfection level, no way to earn or lose it. It is forever, meaning without end, never stopping and never getting low. I'm still realizing the very simple fact that God doesn't have a mistake quota, I will not hit a limit where He decides, "That's it, you're done, no more love for you." It cannot happen because He said it's forever! 
   In Psalm 107, which also starts out the same as Psalm 136:1, verses 17-21 state:
Some became fools through their rebellious ways
    and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
 
They loathed all food
    and drew near the gates of death.

Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
 and he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.
 
Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind.

Even when we mess up, do bad, rebel, turn away; His love still endures forever! We only need to turn to God, repent and accept His love.  The only real question is: are we willing to receive the love He offers?

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