I absolutely love weddings.
No, I’ve got to be honest here: I cry during weddings. Like a blubbering babe.
I love weddings so much because like invitations to another ceremony, they point so powerfully beyond themselves to eternity—to the marriage of Christ and His bride, the Church.
One of the things I knew I’d be surrendering to the Lord as I committed to the Race was missing the weddings of three of my best friends—Taylor Klopatek (today), Tyler Weavers (June), and Nate Drewry (July). These guys have been like brothers and sons to me for years. I would give practically anything to see their faces when their brides walk down the aisle, to give them a bear hug, to offer a toast at their reception.
The thing that keeps me from feeling embittered for missing these special days is remembering the words of my favorite book in the Bible: “Hallelujah!…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…Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb…And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband… The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come’” (Revelation 19:6a, 7, 8a, 9a; 21:2; 22:17).
I am at peace “missing out” on these precious days because I know that theirs is only the wedding rehearsal. Christ’s wedding is the reality. And one day, in the life to come, I will recline at table with Taylor and Sen, Tyler and Kayla, Nathan and Anna, and with Jesus Himself—and we’ll celebrate the real thing. The old and temporary age will pass away; the new and greater realities will endure.
So I guess you could say that the reason I’m missing these weddings is because I’m inviting the people of the nations to a wedding feast that will never end. And that’s something worth celebrating, not grieving.
Earlier in the week, Taylor’s mom, Beth, asked if I would say some things and put them in a video so that it could be played at some point on Taylor and Sen’s big day. Well, the video took so long to upload that it wasn’t quite ready for the ceremony, but hopefully it will still bless the wedding couple!
Glory to God, who invites us into His eternal dance of love, and whose wedding we need not miss if we believe in His Son.
Here’s the link to my video on YouTube:
