One of the singular privileges of a minister’s profession is to be involved in the uniting of young couples in holy matrimony. A pastor learns early on that funerals and weddings are a part of the normal flow of life; and while the former is often accompanied by tears of sadness, the latter most often involves much laughter and great joy.
For my part, over the years, I have been involved in scores of weddings. I was blessed to officiate at all three of my children’s weddings, as well as my younger sister’s wedding. (I had not yet surrendered to the ministry when my older sister to married; or I likely would have been a part of that ceremony too.)
I have also been privileged to tie the knot, as it were, for several nieces and nephews. Hopefully, one day, I can even participate in my own grandchildren’s’ weddings.
Of course, of all the weddings I have been a part of, two stand out far more than all the rest. The first of these is my own wedding, which occurred exactly 35 years ago today. That’s right! As the picture below depicts, on June 11, 1983, my precious bride, Vickie, and I got ourselves hitched!
For my part, over the years, I have been involved in scores of weddings. I was blessed to officiate at all three of my children’s weddings, as well as my younger sister’s wedding. (I had not yet surrendered to the ministry when my older sister to married; or I likely would have been a part of that ceremony too.)
I have also been privileged to tie the knot, as it were, for several nieces and nephews. Hopefully, one day, I can even participate in my own grandchildren’s’ weddings.
Of course, of all the weddings I have been a part of, two stand out far more than all the rest. The first of these is my own wedding, which occurred exactly 35 years ago today. That’s right! As the picture below depicts, on June 11, 1983, my precious bride, Vickie, and I got ourselves hitched!
And all I can say is that she must be a glutton for punishment; because she has faithfully stuck by me for over three and a half decades now. In fact, we met in the tenth grade and dated for seven years before we got married. So, altogether, we have spent forty two years together as a couple – thirty five of which have been as husband and wife.
I thank God in Heaven for my precious wife! My relationship with her is the single most important relationship I have in this world! To be honest, I have no idea where I would be without her love and support. And my sincere hope and prayer is that we get to spend our entire lives in this world together. Nothing on earth would make me a happier man.
I say that my relationship with my wife is the single most important relationship I have in this world; and it is. But there is one relationship I have that supersedes even it. And the same is true for her. That is the personal relationship that each of us enjoys with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And this is the other significant marriage I referenced above.
I prayed to receive Christ as my personal Lord and Savior on May 4, 1970. According to the Bible, when I entered into this relationship with Him, I became a part of the church, which, among other things, the Bible describes as the "bride of Christ".
In a famous passage in the New Testament Book of Ephesians, (chapter 5, verses 31-33) where he addresses the relationships between husbands and wives, the Apostle Paul quotes from the Old Testament Book of Genesis (chapter 2, verse 24) as he makes the following assertion:
31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Thus, my role as a husband to my earthly wife is informed by, guided by, and only superseded by my role as a part of the bride of my heavenly Savior!
Thirty five years ago, my wife and I celebrated our nuptials! I will treasure this memory as long as I live! But one day, somewhere out there in the future, I will celebrate the other wedding of which I am a part. As The Apostle John puts it in the New Testament book of Revelation (chapter 19, verse 6-9):
6Then 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. 7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” 9Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
I will always remember with great fondness the events of that second weekend in June back in 1983! A rehearsal dinner, a marriage ceremony, a wedding reception, and a wonderful honeymoon! I still remember how excited I was as the big events approached! I cherish their memory to this very day.
And yet, nowadays, I also find myself looking forward to another special series of matrimonial events out there in the future – when the Bridegroom will return for His bride; and I along with all believers everywhere, will be taken to be with Him in His Father’s house, where we will solemnize our relationship and celebrate this event with a time of feasting and festivity like never before!
And thus, I leave you with the prayer of the Apostle John at the end of the Bible: “Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!”
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
http://biblehub.com/niv/ephesians/5.htm.
http://biblehub.com/niv/revelation/19.htm.
http://biblehub.com/revelation/22-20.htm.
I thank God in Heaven for my precious wife! My relationship with her is the single most important relationship I have in this world! To be honest, I have no idea where I would be without her love and support. And my sincere hope and prayer is that we get to spend our entire lives in this world together. Nothing on earth would make me a happier man.
I say that my relationship with my wife is the single most important relationship I have in this world; and it is. But there is one relationship I have that supersedes even it. And the same is true for her. That is the personal relationship that each of us enjoys with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. And this is the other significant marriage I referenced above.
I prayed to receive Christ as my personal Lord and Savior on May 4, 1970. According to the Bible, when I entered into this relationship with Him, I became a part of the church, which, among other things, the Bible describes as the "bride of Christ".
In a famous passage in the New Testament Book of Ephesians, (chapter 5, verses 31-33) where he addresses the relationships between husbands and wives, the Apostle Paul quotes from the Old Testament Book of Genesis (chapter 2, verse 24) as he makes the following assertion:
31“For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.” 32This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church. 33However, each one of you also must love his wife as he loves himself, and the wife must respect her husband.
Thus, my role as a husband to my earthly wife is informed by, guided by, and only superseded by my role as a part of the bride of my heavenly Savior!
Thirty five years ago, my wife and I celebrated our nuptials! I will treasure this memory as long as I live! But one day, somewhere out there in the future, I will celebrate the other wedding of which I am a part. As The Apostle John puts it in the New Testament book of Revelation (chapter 19, verse 6-9):
6Then 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. 7Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. 8Fine linen, bright and clean, was given her to wear.” 9Then the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!” And he added, “These are the true words of God.”
I will always remember with great fondness the events of that second weekend in June back in 1983! A rehearsal dinner, a marriage ceremony, a wedding reception, and a wonderful honeymoon! I still remember how excited I was as the big events approached! I cherish their memory to this very day.
And yet, nowadays, I also find myself looking forward to another special series of matrimonial events out there in the future – when the Bridegroom will return for His bride; and I along with all believers everywhere, will be taken to be with Him in His Father’s house, where we will solemnize our relationship and celebrate this event with a time of feasting and festivity like never before!
And thus, I leave you with the prayer of the Apostle John at the end of the Bible: “Even so, come quickly, Lord Jesus!”
SCRIPTURE SOURCES:
http://biblehub.com/niv/ephesians/5.htm.
http://biblehub.com/niv/revelation/19.htm.
http://biblehub.com/revelation/22-20.htm.