Steven and Sue got married one week ago today. The ceremony was absolutely beautiful; I am still in awe. Sue was so gorgeous and Steven was so happy… it was good to see them together as one at last. I was just so struck by how beautiful the ceremony, couple, bride, and reception were. There were so many moments that I was nearly brought to tears from simply reflecting on the beauty before my eyes. It was obvious, for me at least, that the beauty of it all lay precisely in the complete purity of it all. Purity is Beautiful. I don’t entirely think I understood just how beautiful purity really is until the wedding… actually, I probably still don’t understand fully. Steven and Sue set such an example of purity in every aspect of their relationship. They exercised self-control and maintained healthy boundaries throughout the whole course of their relationship to the extent that ever since the moment they met four years ago, they abstained from being alone together (whether in a house, car, park, etc.) and from kissing each other. Furthermore, they based their entire relationship on Christ as a firm foundation. It was their clean relationship and obvious love of their Savior that nearly brought me to tears; the purity they maintained in every area of their lives and relationship was so beautiful that I couldn’t help but to be captured by it.
I think about Sue and how she looked as she entered the ceremony. She was so happy and ready to marry that she was crying. She was just overflowing with emotions to the point that she could hardly find her smile. But her peace rested in Steven. Everything was okay again when he held her hand and when she looked up into his eyes. It was picture-perfect, really. Sue trusted Steven so much while he was so in awe of her beauty.
I know, I know… it sounds cliché, but honestly, this is an awesome example of the church – we are the bride of Christ. If I compare us to Steven and Sue’s wedding, I almost cry at, again, the beauty of it. They showed me that the church should find its peace in Christ alone such that, like Sue, we find complete rest in Him and trust Him with our lives completely knowing that He is in all control. In turn, He, like Steven, will be in awe of our beauty. I don’t think I quite comprehend how Jesus could be in awe of us broken and disobedient people, but Steven and Sue showed me that He will so be in awe of our beauty that He can do nothing but look into our eyes, think nothing but about our beauty, see nothing but our purity… it’s a 2 way street – the love is reciprocal, though in different ways.
And now I want that. Jesus, I want to be a part of that beauty, to partake of that purity and to be found wholly pure in your sight. Jesus, if this union between finite and broken human beings was so beautiful, how much more beautiful will the union be when it is between the church and your perfect, infinite, unlimited, and un-fallen self?! What ineffable beauty! I can only imagine… and, yet, I will one day be a part of that! Jesus, if I am to be your bride, I want to be found beautiful just like Sue was on her wedding day – beautiful in purity. I desire to be found blameless and pure and, in that purity, to partake in True Beauty of the highest form, for it will be founded on you alone. It’s no wonder that you wish us to be pure – it’s such a beautiful reality. Jesus, I ask for your help in maintaining purity in everything I do that everything I do would be beautiful and pleasing in your sight, that my purity may intensify your beauty and may glorify you.
*Just for clarity, my best friend was the Groom's sister and the Bride's Maid of Honor.
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