Living Lesson: A Beautiful Bride

Living Lesson: A Beautiful Bride

By: Christopher Wiles

I've spoken about it before and today I'm sharing it again.  The MOST EXCITING passage of the Bible for me is Revelation 21:2. "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband."

Through teary eyes I've seen the amazing births of all three of my sons.  I've thrown a no-hitter, won tennis tournaments, and won a 5k.  I've completed a Tough Mudder, a Spartan Race, and a Muckfest.  I've jumped from an 83 foot waterfall and spelunked in the deep dark recesses of Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee cave systems.  I've seen rainbows in Siberia and sat in solitude on a mountain top in Honduras. 

Yet I can't remember any one of those experiences generating as much excitement, passion, and an overwhelming sense of joy as the moment the doors in the back of the auditorium opened at Millview Church of Christ ten years ago on June 5th, 2004.  The sunlight danced and radiated around Ashley as she was exposed to my eyes for the first time in her wedding dress.  She was stunningly, weak-in-the knees, take-your-breath-away gorgeous.  Not a one of those amazing experiences mentioned earlier compare with the vision God gave me of my bride beautifully dressed for her husband on our wedding day. 
 

Maybe it was because we had anticipated and prepared for the wedding for so long, since the moment we started dating.  Maybe it was because we had saved sexual intimacy for the wedding night.  Maybe it was because I was about to kiss Ashley on the lips for the very first time ever.  Whatever the reason, I was ecstatic and exuberant at the sight of my soon-to-be wife as she floated up the isle to stand hand-in-hand before me.  I've smiled a lot, but I don't know if I've ever smiled bigger than that moment. 

If a momentary vision on earth can be that wonderful, then how amazing will it be to see something like it and even better in heaven?    John writes, "I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband." 

My faithful Christian family, we have a lot to be excited for.  Make sure you are looking toward, prepared for, and clothed with Christ on that amazing day in Heaven.  Then you too will read Revelation 21:2 and smile!