I attended a wedding this past summer (masks included, of course), and witnessed a marriage with Christ at the center. Later, the father of the bride shared of his daughter’s remarkable journey with God in finding her husband. You see, his daughter loved Jesus from a very young age. She never sought a boyfriend, she only sought to follow God and passionately pursued Him in her life. She served in church, in the mission field, and focused on her relationship with our Creator faithfully. She didn’t follow the culture-driven path of identity in teen early “dating” relationships, or through the number of instagram followers, or doctored-up selfies on Snapchat. Instead, she followed 2 Corinthians 4:18 which states “So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.”
‘Fairy tale romances’ glamorized by Disney are a poor depiction of true love. The story line is common: One man rescues one woman and “they lived happily ever after.” It is a lie. Don’t be deceived by Hollywood. It will only set you up for disappointment. Don’t get me wrong…………..there is a “happily ever after,” but it’s not through a person on earth. John 3:16 explains “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten son, whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.”
Back to the wedding. The father of the bride continued that as a teen and young adult, his daughter never had a boyfriend. She was involved in church, and Bible studies, and passionately pursued God. She completed college, with no interests but serving God. Then, at a Passion Conference she attended with her brother and sister-in-law, she met a young man who was on the same path of following God. His background was different, as He had not taken the same route. He had a 180 degree turn from the self-idolizing culture he had been in. He fell in love with Jesus, and was with a group of young men at the Passion Conference. This young group of men provided fellowship and aided in the groom’s growth in knowing and loving and following God. The young couple met and bonded through a common love for Christ.
Ironically, the sister-in-law had just prayed for the bride to find her husband while at the conference. And, they met in a crowd of thousands. And, even though the conference was in Florida, they had both traveled from Kentucky. They continued contact after the conference to find love and marriage, with Christ at the center. Immediately after saying “we do,” the newly married couple invited the crowd to sing and praise in worship music. As we were all singing together on that still, hot summer day, a gentle wind began to blow as we sang together. God was pleased.
Today, with Christ at the center, they both passionately pursue serving Him in the mission field (whether that be at work, or church, or traveling to an orphanage in Mexico or group home in TN). They love each other, but they love God first and foremost. It is a beautiful picture of one man, one woman, and God in holy matrimony. They faithfully have quiet time separately with God, together as a couple with God, in church, and out in the field sharing of God. Their focus is on Him, and they are blessed in relationships. They follow Matthew 22 which states per Jesus, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Want a happily ever after? Faithfully put God first and follow Him passionately. What does this passion look like? We will hear from our young couple, next time.
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