November 16 The Perfect Marriage

Revelation 19:6-8 Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8 Fine linen, the righteous acts of the saints, are bright and clean, was given her to wear.”
 
WEDDINGS are beautiful occasions. The bride long plans. The groom steps into his place, and they are prayerfully joined into the one-flesh union God declared in Genesis. A flesh-to-flesh, spirit-to-spirit relationship between man and woman perfects God’s creation. God was in that first union. He had created it. He made it perfect. But then, sin made it imperfect.
    Sin broke the perfect relationship between God and mankind and mankind with one other. Sin, too, keeps the church today from perfection and a perfect relationship with Jesus - its husband. Sin separates!
    Thankfully, as we know, the Bible records how history has been “His Story” - God’s promised, purposeful plan to remove sin and to restore God’s perfection into each aspect of his creation. The Lord gives to John now his vision of the perfected church as Jesus’ bride!
    Thus, as we come to the restored, perfect and eternal union between God and his people, the wedding image is fitting, isn’t it? Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Son of Man,, is joined with his bride, the Church. Each person who has said, “I do.” to Jesus as Lord and Savior will live perfectly joined to Jesus forever. The church is dressed in holiness because her husband’s blood has washed sin’s filth away.
    Oh, my! The wedding ceremony is complete: Revelation 19:9-10 “Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God. 10 At this I fell at his feet to worship him.” Yes! Worship such a Savior who intimately joins with you with his unbreakable love: John 17:24 “Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world.”
    Celebrate your holy Husband. You can trust such a marvelous perfect God who weds you into a holy, eternal union with him.
 
Prayer: We praise you, Lord God, for your patient persistence to join with your chosen church. We worship you in joy and wonder, grateful to be married to you. Amen.