Unfortunately, I believe your analogy is incorrect. If we are considered to be the “bride-to-be,” then we must also see ourselves as one who cheated, or sinned against the loving husband (original sin, or the fall of man in the Garden of Eden). That act in the garden of wanting to be like God was enough for Him to turn his back on us. However, God so loves us and wants us to be with him for eternity that he sacrificed Himself through his Son, Jesus Christ. All we have to do is accept His sacrifice and live lives worthy of His sacrifice to be with him forever.
I agree that the analogy is limited. I think it also comes from an understanding of human nature though. And God has that understanding. To take that part of the analogy further, her cheating, since he created her, could lead to His uncreating her, kinda like He did with the great flood. It is the punishment that is beyond human comprehension, and “unending” that I am challenged to pull from the actual words of the bible.
That analogy was not mine, but this one is: If I say I am going to paint a fence blue for all eternity do I mean I am going to spend all eternity painting it, or that I am going to paint it once and it will STAY BLUE.
It is interesting that the bible is very clear that those who accept Christ will go on to eternal life, while those that don’t, won’t. And what is the opposite of life?
>>That act in the garden of wanting to be like God was enough for Him to turn his back on us. However, God so loves us and wants us to be with him for eternity that he sacrificed Himself through his Son, Jesus Christ. All we have to do is accept His sacrifice and live lives worthy of His sacrifice to be with him forever.<<
I agree with all of that except for the word “and” in your last sentence. I also praise Jesus that although I give Him cause to turn His back on my daily, He is faithful and just and provided the ultimate sacrifice. And that is grace. He has “saved” me in spite of who I am. Actually, Paul talks about it quite a bit in Romans.
My life is NOT worthy of His sacrifice. That is why it is called Grace.
The way I understand it is that a man is expected to fear God keep His commandments. That is the only duty of man and the commandments are no hard to keep.