Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. Revelation 19:7 KJV
12 years ago, on 6th June 2002, standing before the cross I proclaimed a vow to my bride of being with her in life and till death do us apart. 12 years, through which I have learnt many truths of myself and have been on a path of quitting, correcting, committing and failing again, yet she has forgiven me and continued to live with me. 12 years, where we saw the many promises of GOD through His word come to life. 12 years and yet there is so much more mystery hidden in this beautiful word “Marriage”.
Today, I want share one of those mysteries that popped before me. Christ relationship with the church is like a marriage, where He continues to do 3 simple things -:
1.HE loves us unconditionally (A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. John 13:34 KJV)
2.HE renews our salvation intentionally (To give knowledge of salvation unto his people by the remission of their sins, Luke 1:77 KJV)
3.HE waits to take us home eternally (Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 4:17 KJV)
Christ love and sacrifice is what has renewed our lives and the same is expected in my relationship with my wife. Christ has accepted the church as it was, through His love changed her heart and redeemed her through this love. My life should bring the love that Christ has, and change my spouse’s life as well as mine , our love for each other should be unconditional.
The sacrifice of Christ on the cross should be the story of salvation that the church builds her foundation on. In the light of the many sins of the church, Christ has still given us the hope of salvation to re-enter into a relationship with Him, though His sacrifice on the cross. His blood has cleansed us all. Thus, in our marriages, mistakes happen, heated discussions erupt, irritations and selfish acts follow but then we sit down together and realize the purpose of marriage is to lead each other to salvation, under the love and cleansing blood of Jesus Christ. He opens our eyes to forgive each other and rework our lives around HIM. Marriage should lead to salvation and the glory of Christ.
HE waits, for those who have walked this path of selfless commitment to one person of the opposite sex in this holy relationship of marriage, to come together before HIM in his eternal home called Heaven.
Now for the mystery I found today, after 12 years of marriage, it is not till death do us apart, it is till death brings us together. Think about it, if I live a life that is pure and committed to my wife and she loves me with all her heart, mind and soul, should we not be together even after death. If our lives are filled with unconditional love and stories of salvation working together for the glory of GOD, why should death keep us apart, our hope continues in Jesus Christ who will bring us together forever. Remember death has lost her sting and we are one in Christ. So it is never till deaths do us apart it is till death brings us together.
So all of us who are husbands , be courageous for GOD and love your wife unconditionally, bring your children up for the glory of GOD, fight for love and stand up for justice. Let GOD's love keep our families together so that we all meet again on the eternal shore.
Have a blessed week.
Deeps