I’ve been thinking about marriage a lot lately. Two months from today our kids, Jon is already part of our family, are getting married. We are just so excited. I trust this is God’s direction and God’s selected mate for Livi as I’ve been praying for her husband, just the right one to be chosen by God, since she was born. There were some very nice boys that came aporch, but none like Jon! We couldn’t love him more, and we’re thrilled. So we’re currently running the frenetic wedding preparation race. T-2 months and counting. You know the drill, flowers, cake, venue, caterer, lists upon lists of to-do. It’s super busy, a little stressful and super exciting. But the courting, the engagement and the wedding don’t just take place overnight. It’s all a process leading to the wedding.
It all starts with a commitment. There has to be a “yes.”
They answered, “Let’s call her and find out what she has to say.” So they called Rebecca and asked, “Do you want to go with this man?”
“Yes,” she answered.
Genesis 24:58-60
Then there’s the marriage, the union. Don’t forget, marriage was God’s idea and He set it out for us. Look here:
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to live alone. I will make a suitable companion to help him.” So he took some soil from the ground and formed all the animals and all the birds… but not one of them was a suitable companion to help him.
Then the Lord God made the man fall into a deep sleep, and while he was sleeping, he took out one of the man’s ribs and closed up the flesh. He formed a woman out of the rib and brought her to him. Then the man said, “At last, here is one of my own kind—
Bone taken from my bone, and flesh from my flesh.
‘Woman’ is her name because she was taken out of man.”
That is why a man leaves his father and mother and is united with his wife, and they become one.
Genesis 2:18-24
Then there’s the wedding. The day it all comes together before God with celebration.
Two days later there was a wedding in the town of Cana in Galilee. Jesus’ mother was there, and Jesus and his disciples had also been invited to the wedding.
John 2:1-2
Now this wedding isn’t going to be like weddings in Jesus’ day, it’s a one-day event, not a week long event. Wow, no wonder they ran out of wine! Regardless of the length of the celebration, at the end of the day Jon and Livi will be married.
“Haven’t you read the Scriptures?” Jesus replied. “They record that from the beginning ‘God made them male and female.’ And he said, “‘This explains why a man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.’ Since they are no longer two but one, let no one split apart what God has joined together.”
Matthew 19:4-6
I’ve been thinking of all the particulars, or details of Livi and Jon’s wedding that result in the marriage. Then I think about all the details and particulars of another wedding that will take place but we know not when. Commitment. Faithfulness. Dependence. Permanent. Binding. Love. Honor. Obedience. Oneness. Forgiveness. Provision. Aren’t these some of the details of the Great Wedding that will take place? The Great Wedding we’ve been invited to?
As the Scriptures say, “A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one.” This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one.
Ephesians 5:32
God is preparing a Great Wedding for the marriage of His Son and the Church – the Groom and the Bride. So, I ask myself…will I be as prepared for the Great Wedding, the marriage of Christ and the Church, as I am for Livi and Jon’s wedding? Just as a husband and wife are merged into one at the marriage, Christ invites us to be merged into one with Him. Am I prepared? Have I worked through the details? Have I made a commitment? Am I faithful? Am I dependent on Him? Is my commitment permanent? Am I bound to Him? do I love Him? Do I honor Him? Am I obedient to Him? Am I one with Him? Have I asked forgiveness of Him? Do I accept His provision?
The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” Let the one who hears say, “Come!” And let the one who is thirsty come, and the one who desires the water of life drink freely.
Revelation 22:17
Come! Be united in eternity with Christ. Work through the details. Come exchange the vows and experience Oneness with Christ for eternity – what God has joined together let no man put asunder.