"I DO's"

It was the summer prior to my going into first grade as I recall. My Mother announced to me that I was going to get to go to a wedding at our church. I was too excited for words. You see, I had never been to a wedding. I had seen pictures of brides in the newspaper and knew it was a special even but that's about all I knew about it. I couldn't wait to tell a playmate about this upcoming adventure.

Her reaction was one of pure shock. She couldn't believe my Mother would take me to a wedding. I asked her what would be wrong with it. She informed me something I never knew before. She said, “At the end of the wedding, the brides man will kiss her....right on the lips...in front of everybody.” I was floored. There was no TV in those days and the only movies I went to were cowboy ones on Saturday afternoons. I knew what kissing was, but to see such a thing in public, I wasn't sure how I felt about that.

The bride was beautiful. Mary was the daughter of our town's postmaster so she was popular I guess. It looked to me like the girls with her wore prom dresses and the guys wore Sunday suits. Boy, have weddings changed today. Mary was beautiful though and her new husband did kiss right on the mouth. I put my hands over my face but peeked between a couple of fingers. Their wedding picture was in our town's newspaper and I still have the picture and article from that wedding somewhere in a scrapbook.

We recently saw all the royal to-do from England and it was lovely and lavish. I loved the little kids as much as anything and also the choir singing, “Stand By Me.” With all the buildup and expectations, the whole thing was over with in a short amount of time and everyone went their merry ways. Special guests left in all their finery and observers by the thousands all went home and resumed their normal lives.

Next to our relationship with Jesus, the next most important thing in our lives is that of marriage. God created man and woman in that garden, meant for each other to love, be partners and raise kids. That expectation hasn't really changed, from God's perspective. We go about this wedding thing from different angles. Some have chosen huge wedding extravaganzas to tie the knot. I know of some couples who have chosen to elope, while others because of finance have chosen to go to city hall or even to the pastor's office to tie that very precious knot. Whether at Windsor, Hyatt Regency, a church auditorium, parent's back yard or in privacy with a pastor...no matter the setting or attire, the process is the same and the result is an official marriage signed, sealed and delivered in license form as proof.

Weddings are fun if you're attending, but can be pretty hectic if you have to be in on the planning of one. New members are added to families and life moves on for the happy couple.

There is another wedding down the road I really look forward to. God proposed to me through His Son Jesus who signed our relationship in His blood. I'm not the only one asked to attend this special wedding feast. I'm not THE bride alone but make up THE Bride of Christ. No cathedrals, churches or other venues needed. Besides, none of them in all their beauty can compare to that Heavenly wedding feast locale. We'll all appear in our new Heavenly clothes. It will be a feast and celebration that we in our finite minds can't begin to grasp, not even in our wildest dreams or imaginations.''

The book of Revelation gives a little information about it in chapter 19:6-9:

And I heard as it were the voice of a great multitude,

and as the voice of many waters, and as the voice

of mighty thunderings, saying,

Alleluia: for the Lord God omnipotent reigneth.

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to

him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his

wife hath made herself ready.

And to her was granted that she should be arrayed

in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen

is the righteousness of saints.

Every bride I've known really gets fixed up for her wedding. She may get a special hair style done, make up perfect, teeth sparkling and on and on the preparations go. She wants to look her best in every way for her groom. I wonder if right now, I'm doing all I can to prepare myself for Jesus' coming, either for us all or for me individually, whichever He chooses for me. Will He be pleased with the life I'm living, and repentance of sin a regular with me. Will He see my smile of anticipation of seeing Him, wanting so much for Him to be pleased with my love and service. We believers, Christians, are going to make up the Bride of Christ.

I can almost hear the bells ringing now!!

Thank You Father for sending Your son Jesus to die for me and for preparing great things for my life now and in Heaven. Forgive when I fail You..I'm so sorry. I love You and count it such a privilege being Your child. In Jesus name...Amen