Ultimately, Christianity is a wedding feast. It is a marriage.
And if you don’t understand that, you are missing out on the greatest hope humanity has ever known.
“Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure…” Revelation 19:6-8
If you are a believer, this is your future. This day is coming.
I went to a wedding recently that reminded me of this wedding to come. The wedding was incredibly Christ centered, but the bride’s entrance is what most stuck out to me.
As soon at the doors swung open, She began crying and laughing uncontrollably – at the same time. She laughed and cried, the entire walk down the aisle.
The. Entire. Walk.
The crowd couldn’t help but join with her. It was such a genuine response to the situation. How often she had dreamed of this day! How much had she gone through to get to this moment! What else could she do but cry? What else could she do but laugh? I can’t think of two more authentic reactions. Her joy was palpable. It was almost like there was a feeling of relief in the room. I can imagine her thinking it now.
“Finally this day has come. Finally, it is here.”
Dressed in pure white, she passed row after row of joyful, teary-eyed faces (mine included) towards her adoring husband who waited for her eagerly. Who waited for her with excitement. Never have I seen such joy in a wedding. Never have I seen such unadulterated happiness.
People think crying is synonymous with bad. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. We cry because we care. And when we care about something that makes us happy, we cry and smile. That day, smiles and tears abounded.
I think that is what it’s going to be like at the wedding of the Lamb. I think we, The Church, Jesus’s bride, are going to be laughing and crying the whole way down the aisle. I think the heavenly hosts will join in with us as they see us walking down the aisle towards our Savior.
This is our hope. The wedding feast of the Lamb, where God and Man will one day be reunited forever is coming. The hope of that day is how we get through this day.
And on that day, all of the fear, all of the tears, all of the failures – on that day we will realize it was all worth it. The pain will disappear. The long night will be over. “The joy set before us” will finally be before us. It will be before us because He will be before us.
“For your Maker is your husband, the LORD of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called." Isaiah 54:5
P.S – Taylor and Brandy, you (and your wedding) are truly inspiring. Thanks for everything.
- Drew Mixson