A diving accident left Joni Eareckson paralyzed. Her handicap didn't keep her from marrying Ken Tada, but it almost kept her from the joy of the wedding. While waiting to go down the aisle, she discovered a big, thick, black grease mark, courtesy of her wheelchair. The bouquet of daisies on her lap slid off center, her paralyzed hands unable to arrange them.
She felt far from a picture-perfect bride. But as she looked down the aisle, she saw her groom. She says, "Grease stain? Flowers out of place? Who cares? The love in Ken's eyes washed it all away. That's what changed me!"
She forgot about herself. Everything changes when you look at your groom!
Isaiah gives us a picture of our future when the church becomes the Bride of Christ. In Isaiah 62:5 we read:
"As a young man marries a young woman, so will your Builder marry you; as a bridegroom rejoices over His bride, so will your God rejoice over you."
The Book of Revelation gives us more about the marriage ceremony and feast.
And I love this last verse of the hymn, "The Sands of Time are Sinking"
"The bride eyes not her garment, but her dear bridegroom's face;
I will not gaze at glory, but on my King of grace.
Not at the crown He giveth, but on His pierced hands;
The Lamb is all the glory, in Immanuel's land!"
And "Turn your eyes upon Jesus -- look full in His wonderful face. And the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace!"
Maranatha, Lord Jesus!
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