It’s hard to believe that my wife and I will be celebrating our 35th wedding anniversary this year. I can remember our wedding day like it was just yesterday. Time flies by. A wedding is meant to be final. Our vows are to be taken seriously when I declare to the world that I choose her and that she in return declares to the world she chooses me — end of story. Or is it just the beginning of something miraculous?
I would like to think of marriage as a miraculous new beginning. My life with my wife seems to continually blossom into new life. Of course, you would need to consult with her to see if she feels the same way, but our journey together as a married couple has been good. Not that we haven’t experienced difficult times together. We have certainly worked through difficult issues, and I know we will continue to face additional issues as we continue on our walk together. Yet, we are devoted to one another through the thick and thin, during the good and bad times, whether we are rich or poor, in sickness and in health. We will cherish each other until death do us part. In summary, those were the vows we spoke to each other 35 years ago.
Although our earthly marriages are designed to end, if I pass on or if my wife passes on from this earth, the marriage is dissolved. But I would like to talk about a heavenly marriage. One that will never end because during the time of that wedding, death is defeated. Who does this heavenly marriage involve? Well, it is the wedding of the Son of God, A.K.A. the “Lamb of God,” as the bridegroom and the church as the bride. You see, my marriage was a gift from God as a symbol to represent the final wedding between the Lamb of God and the church. See Ephesians 5:31-32: 31 “Therefore a man shall leave his father and mother and hold fast to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.” 32 This mystery is profound, and I am saying that it refers to Christ and the church.
Yes, this is a mystery, indeed! How does a person marry the church? The church is made up of people as numerous as the stars! How is it possible to be married to so many? Yet, the church is one, just as God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are one. (John 17:20-25) Yes, indeed, this is a mystery!
But let’s look at what we can know for sure, what do we know about what makes a marriage good? I believe love is the answer to that question, and a strong love brings about faithfulness and kindness, mercy and forgiveness. Love always builds up and never tears down. Love endures all things (1 Cor. 13). Love is the answer to what makes a marriage good because God is love. A strong love is the same way of saying a strong God, for love and God are interchangeable (1 John 4:8).
What is the greatest commandment given in the scriptures? To love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and all your mind (Matthew 22:36-40). Love is a commitment of your entire self — both your physical body and your spiritual being. So the Son of God, Jesus Christ, is down on one knee and is proposing to you for your hand in marriage. Jesus says, “Repent or turn from your ways and follow me, for the kingdom of God is now available.” Everyone is welcome to the wedding proposal, but you need to make a commitment. You either accept Jesus’ proposal or you reject it. But know this, once you have passed from this earth without accepting the wedding proposal, there is no other chance to accept His offer.
Jesus is on one knee, asking for your hand in marriage. This decision should not be taken lightly, but the King of the Universe is awaiting your answer — Yes or No.
Revelation 19:9 “And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.”
Discussions to make God known 