The wedding was beautiful Sunday evening. (I wore a suit, by the way.) There is nothing as joyful as two families and a host of friends coming together to celebrate a man and woman pledging their lives to one another.
Jadon and Amanda wrote their own vows. She had to pause at one point as emotion made it impossible to talk. But with tears in her eyes, Amanda told her new husband how much she loved him and how she would remain faithful to him until death. Then with a strong voice, Jadon told Amanda how much she meant to him. He promised to protect her, provide for her, and love her all the days of his life. Then I asked that Jadon take a ring, put it on his bride’s finger, and complete the vow. Amanda did the same and the marriage was sealed. (Of course, for some reason, the guy always wants to kiss the girl before they walk down the aisle.)
Jesus calls us the bride and He is the Bridegroom. “The bride belongs to the Bridegroom,” John the Baptist told his listeners. Sometimes we get choked up when we think of how much Jesus loves us. We know we only love him because He first loved us. What kind of love motivates One to lay down his life for a selfish sinner? At the foot of the Cross, we look up to our Savior and vow we will never leave him. But even our ‘pledge of a good conscience’ does not keep us as faithful as we want to be. We’ve all been guilty of walking out on the Lover of our souls. Do our hearts stray like the ancient children of Israel who seemed to always forget their God? What pride needs to be broken in our stubborn hearts to keep us in a faithful place? “Lead us, Lord, into your strong arms. May we find our joy and fulfillment in your unfailing love.”
His love is unfailing and his vows will never be broken. His arms are strong and no villain can snatch his bride away. He invites us to walk in humility as He did on this earth. He tells us to watch for him and to pray constantly. He wants us to guard our hearts from the harmful advances of an enemy who despises the Son of God. He lives to intercede for those who have given themselves to him. He has given us something far greater than a ring to put on our fingers. “Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.” He knows what we need and He speaks to our hearts. “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” He wants us to remember this promise and look forward to his appearing. What a day that will be!
“The Spirit and the bride say, ‘Come!’ And let him who hears say, ‘Come!’ Whoever is thirsty, let him come; and whoever wishes, let him take the free gift of the water of life.” Revelation 22:17