Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. Love is in the air, as they say. And is there any more emotionally satisfying portrait than a bride beautifully dressed for her groom? The gorgeous bride, dressed in splendor, radiantly smiling; and the groom, thrilled beyond description, his heart nearly leaping out of his chest with delight. It’s a very human picture with very divine overtones; and it’s the final and most graphic picture the Bible gives us of the consummation of redemption. When the battle is done, the wedding will overwhelm us all.
“I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.” (Revelation 21:2)
It’s okay to look forward to that day. God does. Theologically, we have a hard time with the idea that He is greatly anticipating the fulfillment of His desires. That sounds just too human, doesn’t it? If He told us personally of His expectancy, many of us would counsel Him to find contentment first, and not stake His emotions on an event as if that event would sustain His desire long after the “big day” is over. After all, that’s what we tell each other: “Your contentment should be in God alone, not the plans He has for your life.” But God has quite a few plans of His own, and He never portrays Himself as subdued about their fulfillment. Neither does He urge us to be subdued about our excitement. This event should be highly anticipated.
The issues of life – yesterday’s regrets, today’s difficulties, tomorrow’s fears – become much more tolerable when we understand the excited anticipation of God. When we really get a glimpse of His heart and how it beats with joy for His bride, ours starts to beat in the same rhythm. And the rest of life falls under the spell of hopeful anticipation.
Is that where our hearts live today – in a state of hopeful anticipation? Are the turbulent issues of life subdued under the excitement of the coming wedding day with our Savior? One of the greatest offerings we can present to Jesus is a heart that beats with His. If yours doesn’t, ask Him to fill you with His desires. If your heart does beat in sync with His, it’s Time To Get Dressed for the wedding.
Have a love-saturated weekend. Make it better by worshiping The LORD with those who live in anticipation of the glorious day when they will see Jesus face-to-face; and they can’t stop smiling just thinking about it.
All For Jesus – Nothing More, Nothing Less, Nothing Else.
Vic Alvarado 