In a few days, here in Richmond, Kentucky, many people will gather on a hillside farm to witness the union of a man and a woman in marriage. Months ago, a date was set and many arrangements were made to prepare for this public profession of love and commitment between Josiah Morrison and Rachel Harmon. This couple has known each other for years, yet each day their bond is stronger, and with each day that passes into the future, their hearts will become more and more united.
This is the way God has planned marriage to be, and gives a beautiful picture of the future of Christians and their beloved Savior. These young folks have been friends and companions, but soon they will be one flesh, united and bound to each other. As with the Christian walk, it is not a matter of forced compliance, but of love and desire to give of oneself for the benefit of another. What a beautiful picture from God!
Those that have called themselves by the name "Christian" have chosen to take on the name of their Beloved, much like Miss Harmon will soon take on the name of her beloved and become Rachel Morrison. For the Christian, as with the bride, the new name will be written down and kept on record. God intends marriage to be forever, again picturing the Christian life. 2 Corinthians 5:17 tells us that "if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old has passed away, behold all things have become new." A new family will be born right here before our eyes, praise God!
The marriage ceremony will be marked by witnesses, in a public place, but becoming united to another person in marriage is a simple thing. The ceremony is not necessary for one to become married, in fact in most places only the couple and a witness or two must be there. The couple that is married by a judge in a courthouse with no witnesses is no more or less married than the couple that has thousands in attendance. Such is the commitment of one's life to Christ, whether you are in a church building, sitting on the side of a mountain by yourself, or a friend sat by your side and witnessed your vow to God to repent and follow Him, the commitment is just as valid. It is not necessary to stand at the altar, but it is a joy for others to be able to share with you in the joy of seeing such a blessed union start.
I think of the ordinance of the church we call baptism. Those wishing to identify with Christ do so in a public setting, proclaiming their devotion to their Beloved Savior, and want the world to know. In the wedding, vows are exchanged, signifying promises of commitment, and in baptism we are proclaiming our love in public, in the presence of witnesses, whether two or two thousand in number.
So as we all go about the busyness of preparing, building, painting, cooking, and making this old farm look new again, many have labored together to get it all done. Many have worked countless hours that those gathered will never know about, but their reward is not in the praise of people, but in serving. As we serve the Lord, our Beloved Bridegroom, we also ought not be looking for praise but serving out of love.
Often we labor in the Gospel, meet the needs of the poor, visit the sick, and labor endlessly, and it may seem that nobody notices. We know that the Lord sees our labor, for Him, and He provides the fruit at harvest time, in the time He chooses. We look forward to seeing fruit for Him as we prepare for the coming of our wedding day, when Christ will come to gather His bride. He will adorn us in pure garments that He has prepared, and we will forevermore be with our Beloved. What a glorious day that will be!
So, while we are awaiting a wedding here on a hillside farm in Kentucky, I see so much more going on. We tend to get tied up in our work and lose sight of why we give our lives for the labor. All one must do is step back and see the beauty of the sunset as we work, to see the smiles on the faces of the bride and groom and all the others as we anticipate the culmination of our work. True beauty is in the unity of so many laboring as one, anticipating the day when we will be united with Christ.
This morning, I was bemoaning the physical pain I deal with in this physical body. Then I picked up my Bible, and read the love letter my Groom has sent to me, to prepare for the wedding day. I considered Job when he lost his riches and most of his family. I read of Paul sitting in jail, rejoicing in the conversion of a runaway slave, Onesimus. I see the willing sacrifice of my suffering Savior in the Gospel accounts.
I then looked at my profile picture on Facebook and remembered that Christ is coming for me. He will give to me a new, incorruptible body that will know no pain. We will see glorious beauty that will make the beauty of a sunset in Kentucky pale in comparison. When I see the glory of the only begotten Son of God, full of grace and beauty, glory and majesty, it will humble the most prideful man to know that He is preparing a place for His bride.
Saturday, the wedding will be beautiful, with flowers and dresses, a day of love and family, of joy culminating many days, months, and years of preparation. Still, it is just a little glimpse of what God has prepared for those that love Him and long for the appearing of our Savior, the Messiah, the Holy One of God, our Bridegroom. Yes, marriage is forever and I am glad to have made the necessary preparations for the day He will come for me, to know that I know that I know that I am His and He is mine!
