Photo and Commentary ©2024 by Shelley Schurch
Sunday, October 27, 2024
We’re going to a wedding. I’m looking forward to it.
I know the where and when and some of the who. Most importantly, I know the bride and groom and their families. I know a few of their guests; the rest of the guest list will be a surprise.
As I anticipate the wedding, I try to picture it. It’s an evening event, so I’m sure there will be lovely light. Candles, maybe? Lots of little twinkling fairy lights? There will be music, I know. Nothing sets a mood like music. There will be vows of love and loyalty, promises made, prayers offered over the couple.
After the wedding, the reception. There will be food. There will be speeches.
Most of all, there will be joy.
At every wedding I attend, I look back over my shoulder and I look ahead.
I look back to May 14, 1978, to our wedding. I love the photo of the two of us beginners, encircled by the protective, loving arms of Jesus.
I look ahead:
Then I heard what sounded like a great multitude, like the roar of rushing waters and like loud peals of thunder, shouting: “Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:6, 7 NIV)
We’re going to a wedding. I’m looking forward to it.
I know the where and some of the who, especially the Who. I know Jesus is the Lamb of God. I know He’s been waiting for the bride, His chosen people who have chosen to respond to His love and fully follow Him. I know some of the guests; the rest will be a surprise.
I like to picture it:
There will be light lovelier than our eyes have known on this sin-darkened planet, and music more glorious than our ears have ever heard. Vows of love and loyalty have already been pledged, and lived out, even through the most challenging circumstances.
The promise has been kept. Jesus has come again, and taken us Home.
There will be a wedding banquet.
Most of all, there will be joy.
Many years ago we received a postcard that urged us to “Save the Date!” I’d never seen a card like this and it slightly puzzled me. We already knew about my nephew’s upcoming wedding; he and his fiancée had even asked my husband to be their “marrying minister.”
So we were already saving the date. What puzzled me was this casual postcard, instead of the more formal wedding invitations I was accustomed to receiving.
I cautiously asked the mother of the groom, my sister, about this, and she assured me that invitations with further details were forthcoming. This postcard was a preliminary heads-up.
I’ve been saving the date for Jesus’ coming, and the wedding of the Lamb, for a long time now, without actually knowing the date. The Bible tells us signs that give us a literal heads up that we’re getting close.
When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near. (Luke 21:28 NIV)
We’re going to a wedding. I’m looking forward to it.