Though I am loathe to admit it, my daughter rose from bed at 04:00 to witness the nuptials of Prince William and one Kathryn Middleton. I am given to understand that approximately 1 billion of her fellow humans did likewise. I appreciate the “romance” of the proceedings, and I understand – at some marginally intellectual level – the ‘draw’ to these events, but frankly, I can’t be bothered. This isn’t because I am not a romantic (I’m not), and it isn’t because I could care less about ‘royalty’ (I can’t). It isn’t even because I can’t stand what qualifies as “newsworthy” any longer (I can’t). So, why can’t I be bothered by this grand event? Simply put, because this isn’t the royal wedding I am waiting for!

What could possibly rise above the event witnessed this morning? What could have more pomp, richer surroundings, and more meaning?Well, first some “backstory”. There was a King who had power over all that was known, and He had a bride who He cherished deeply. He lavished active love and relationship on His bride, but eventually she grew more enamored with the creatures and surroundings in her garden than with her King. One day, she broke the only rule in the land, effectively divorcing her husband, the King. She was forced to leave the garden, and she had a difficult life with many ups and downs (mostly down).

The King watched and grieved from a distance, but nothing could be done; she had broken the only rule. Finally the King – in His infinite wisdom – sent His Son (in disguise) to live with His bride, walking with her, talking with her, and experiencing what she experienced. This Plan culminated with the Son taking on the consequences of the rule that had been broken – in full – and paying for that Fall with His own life. The King had won back His bride, but she still didn’t accept that great gift!

Over many years, the King reached out to His bride and for brief moments it ‘felt’ like she was beginning to admit that the debt was paid, the battle won; that she could return to Him, but it didn’t happen. The King – and all His host – strained at the bounds of the palace as they tried to reach the bride, but the King knew it wasn’t time. As the bride suffered and grew older, the entire palace wept for her. Finally, the land the bride lived in was in constant battle and natural disasters raged across the landscape. Her very existence was coming to an end. The King knew this was the time. He and His hosts left the palace to go to the lost bride to bring her home at last.

The King and his hosts appears in a moment, and all the land sees them and trembles. The masses had relegated Him to the ages as a myth, a story told by children to other children; certainly not real, and definitely not all-powerful. Yet, here He is – in power and glory – white, shining as a thousand suns! Undeniable, and present. The earth shakes under the force of His army, and He raises up His bride, and takes her home to His palace. He has been preparing her home for thousands of years, and now she will see it! They can be together forever.

THE Wedding

The renewal of their vows, THE wedding, will take place outside a city with golden streets. This city has 12 gates, each made from a different precious stone. The groom will sit on a throne so bright that one can barely look toward it. That throne will be surrounded by angels with several wings, raising their voices in praise to the King and His Plan for His bride. The bride herself will stand on a sea of glass that is fed by a river, over which is a tree whose fruit changes each month; the Tree of Life. The bride will sing in praises to her King, and the vows they renew will never again be broken. After this wedding, the King will sit down with His bride and eat, and drink. He has not done this for thousands of years, as the Son vowed would come to pass. Once again relationship rebuilt, the bride renewed, and the King’s Plan complete!

Men and women of the Lord, that bride is US! We are those for whom He died so that we could be reconciled to Him. This Plan, in place for eternity past, to save those that were lost; to bring us back to Him, into perfect relationship as He intended from the beginning. How awesome, and how humbling a thought that He would do this for us after we were unfaithful in so many ways. You and I will stand together on that sea of glass and sing praises to Him, we will partake in the cup with Him, and we will rejoice with Him in Heaven for eternity. THAT is the wedding I am waiting for, and nothing we can do here take even one step toward the royalty, the environment, and the meaning of our heavenly reuniting with God the Father through Christ the Son.

For those of you who are reading this that have not yet accepted Christ as your Savior, I urge you to pray right now. Ask the Lord to guide you as He draws you to Him. Be part of this glorious resurrection. He loves you, and wants you to live with Him for eternity. Don’t let this pass!

P.S. I am aware, that in the quick telling of this story that I have left out some critical theology and the judgment(s) entirely. Forgive my license and know that I know these things will come to pass as well, but I haven’t entire days to write these entries!

I have opinions on each of these, but none are doctrine and I am willing to stand by few of them in defense of the faith. I will clearly state that my view is orthodox; that is, I believe God the Father, the Son (Christ), and the Holy Spirit to be one God in three parts. I don’t pretend to know how that is possible.

I do not believe that we are “exactly like” God. Genesis states that we are “created in the image” of God, but this does not state that our form is the same, or that our minds work the same way, or whether or not the spirit He breathed into Adam is the part that is “in His image”. It is not reasonable (or necessary) for me to assume that God is flesh and blood, and there is no Scriptural reference to back that assertion. Indeed, there is evidence to the contrary (Exodus 13:21 with the pillar of fire, the last part of Exodus 19 doesn’t sound like a man of flesh and blood being described, Revelation does not talk about a man of flesh and blood but a being with glowing robes in midair, and so on)

Whether or not Christ loses His power to save if He is a “created being” is not a concept I’ve often interacted with mentally, and the reason is simple; I’ve always thought it a foregone conclusion (and obvious) that He has always been. Why? Because if Christ were created, than Lucifer has a legitimate “beef” for not being in spot number one! Lucifer wanted to be like Christ, and God threw him out of heaven for it. If Christ were created (and so was Lucifer), they were “equal” and should have both been “considered for the son position”. Indeed, since Satan tempted Eve in the garden, this great controversy must have taken place “before time began”, for those that assert that Christ existed before time but deny that He was “always” there.

Here’s the deal… I don’t know what God looks like, in fact, until I have completed my adoption (have a perfect body) I don’t WANT to look at Him because I’d look like overdone toast. The fact that we were created in God’s image should give us a sense of identity, but we shouldn’t go beyond that and assign all kinds of weird little specifics to that action. We are thus recreating God in OUR image, and I think that when we meet Him that our picture of God will be a bare and pale representation of His ultimate glory and being.

What do YOU think?