I drove last night, thinking about the things that happened in my life.  Working over time lines and seeing stability or disrepair.  I saw far more of the latter then I did the former.

So I looked for the things that are good, that I might bring peace to my mind.  I found very few of them, but they did show the sovereign God working in my life.  So I took what peace I could, from what is true, and moved forward with an amazing thought.

My daughter was married in Oregon during my first year as a truck driver.  All I knew was to steer the truck; a complete and utter rookie.

I knew virtually nothing about logistics; how long will it take to get from point A to point B, when to take breaks, and when to drive like a madman.  So I relied very heavily on the dispatcher.

I let her know months ahead of time that my daughter would be married on a certain day.  The company was very friendly and assured me that I could be there.  Regardless that we drive the entire United  States, no matter where I was, I was sure she would direct me to Oregon in time.

As it worked out, that did not come to pass.  I found myself in Tennessee one week before the wedding.  Still, a week is a long time, so I did not panic.  I got the load to New Mexico.  There was no hope.  There was no fear.  I knew I was headed home.

Then I got a load to the east!  I don’t remember where.  All I remember is that I did not take the load.  Instead I made my own load and headed into panic and rage.

I remember sending many messages, of rather crude intent, when I realized I could not make the wedding.  I needed to vent my rage.  To their credit, they got the message quickly.  They eventually got me to Oregon, two days after the wedding. 

The understanding of a few was that I did not want to attend.  Some uninformed minds decided I had stayed away on purpose.  My daughter, graciously, did not utter such things.  It was a strained time of visit.  And after three days, I went back out on the road.

In the reflection of this experience last night, I remembered how I felt.  I remembered the rage.  I remembered the lies that some embraced in regard to my integrity.  Then I perceived what is truer than I.

Aghast as I was at the loss of my daughter’s wedding, I thought of a wedding that is far more precious.  The living God will give his one and only Son to a bride.  And there is nothing that can keep the sovereign God from attending.

She is my only daughter.  He is His only Son.  By the grace of God she will have married only once.  Is not grace that God will marry his Son once.  Divorce is an option among men for the sake of the hardness of their heart.  It is not so with the righteous God and his Holy Son.  The vow he makes will be literally eternal.

There were many who attended my daughter’s wedding.  And they graciously related the experience to me as they could.  With pictures and words and a piece of cake, I swallowed hard to let my imagination be there.

Two questions come to mind in regard to this astounding revelation.  Who are those who are of the Bride of Christ?  They will marry him once for eternity.  And to be married to the Husband of joy and peace is unspeakable.  It is impossible that the threat of being a widow should ever enter their heart!

And the other thought is akin to the first.  Who are those who will not be married to the sovereign God’s Son?  What rage they will feel!  For they were kept from that place by themselves.  They have decided that the pleasures of this world are far greater than to be married to the Holy Son of God. 

There will be no place of reminiscence.  They will never share in the glory that belongs to those who become the Bride of Christ.  There will be no pictures.  There will be no relating the experience.  And there will be no piece of cake for them to swallow hard. To whom should their anger be directed?  But how can any anger be righteous?

With these things in mind what is the comparison we might draw, between the suffering of this place and the joy of being Christ’s bride?

Have we given all we have to gain what will never be taken away?  Do we truly count the sufferings of this place incomparable to that which is promised.  Or do we willingly make compromise and excuses that we will surely come to regret?

May God’s will be done!  May He bless understanding to all his people.  May the sleeping eye come awake.  For many who now believe they will be of the Bride of Christ have fooled themselves to great loss.