God Redeems: Do We Anticipate?
Lisa and I were married on July 25, 1992. You may not remember that day, but it was a sweltering Georgia summer afternoon. The temperature reached about 150 degrees.
That may not be exact, but it was in that ballpark. It was hot. Our reception was held in the Family Life Center of the church where we were married. By “Family Life Center,” I mean gym. When decorating a gym for a wedding reception, the proverbial “lipstick on a pig” saying comes to mind.
With all the decorations, the reception still looked like it was being held in a gym. That did not bother me. What bothered me is that I did not get to eat any of the food at the reception. Every time I thought I might could sneak a plate, we had to take another picture.
When we weren’t taking pictures, someone else wanted to wish us well on our new life together. Pictures were important. Well wishes were thoughtful. But, I wanted food. That’s when I learned that a wedding reception is not for the bride and groom.
It is for everyone else who accepted the invitation to come to the wedding. The reception is people’s pay for showing up. If you come to our wedding, we reimburse you by feeding you. Thanks for coming. (For the record, they did pack us a to-go box of wedding reception food.)
God has another wedding reception planned. This marriage feast will be a tremendous celebration of the uniting of the Lamb and His bride, the church, in an eternal union. The food will be plentiful. The atmosphere will be celebratory and worshipful. The joy will be complete and fulfilling.
Notice the description from Revelation 19:6-9: the noise is constant, cascading, and rumbling. The words are exalting of our God and Savior: “Hallelujah! Because our Lord God, the Almighty reigns!” The bride is adorned in the beauty of the fine linen of righteous acts.
Notice, though, that the bride “was given” (v. 8) the fine linen to wear. She did not bring it with her to the marriage feast. We do not earn the initiation to the marriage feast, we are invited. It is given to us by a gracious God, not out of obligation because of something we have done. Finally, the words are written: “Blessed are those invited to the marriage feast of the Lamb!”
Will you experience the marriage feast of the Lamb?
If you can’t answer “yes,” please notice what you are missing. God has made a way for you to experience His goodness and presence for eternity. Don’t miss it.
If you can answer “yes,” respond in celebration, thanksgiving, and worship. Shout “Hallelujah” from the top of your lungs, or at least the top of your heart. Remember what God has prepared for you through Christ. A feast that celebrates the relationship between you and Jesus awaits.
(Questions/response: jeff.perkins@mbclife.org)