CONSUMMATION

"For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife,

and the two will become One flesh."

(Ephesians 5:31)

He was sent to us in all His brilliance as the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from His pavilion, to shed the light and warmth of His abounding love into our hearts.  He lifted the veil which covered us, and hid our shame, so we could gaze into His beautiful face and see with perfect clarity, as in a mirror, the image we were created to be, and see Him as He truly is.  When we accepted His offer to unite our hearts with His, He placed in our hands the golden ring of His covenant as a pledge of our eternal security, and fixed it with the multifaceted diamond of His grace which has forever opened the door into that sacred place - the holy heart of God.

As our marriage ceremony continues we enter into the Holy Place of deepening intimacy with God and enter into the bridal suite where our consummation will take place.  What today is called the "chuppah" was once in ancient tradition a sacred cloth that was placed on the wedding bed to provide the proof of virginity.  The same hands that wrote our marriage covenant has taken it upon Himself to bear the full weight of responsibility for its fulfillment, and has signed it with His blood and in His name and hung it on a tree for all the world to see.

I promised you to one husband, to Christ,

so that I might present you as a pure virgin to Him"

(2 Corinthians 11:2).

On the morning of the resurrection, there on the bed in the chamber lay a separate cloth folded and set aside (John 20:1-7) - a cloth, "without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless" (Ephesians 5:27).  The blood that was shed to consummate our marriage to our eternal King was from the One who had bound Himself by oath to fulfill our marriage covenant.  He provided all the proof we need.

"For this reason Christ is the mediator of the new covenant, that those who are called may receive the promised eternal inheritance - now that He has died as a ransom to set them free from the sins committed under the first covenant.  In the case of a covenant, it is necessary to prove the death of the one who made it, because a covenant is in force only when somebody has died; it never takes effect while the one who made it is living.  This is why even the first covenant was not put into effect without blood.  When Moses had proclaimed every commandment of the law to all the people, he took the blood of calves, together with water, scarlet wool and branches of hyssop, and sprinkled the scroll on all the people.  He said, "This is the blood of the covenant, which God has commanded you to keep.”  In the same way, he sprinkled with the blood both the tabernacle and everything used in its ceremonies.  In fact, the law requires that nearly everything be cleansed with blood, and without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness."  (Hebrews 9:15-22).

Our bride-price was paid and our covenant signed in the precious blood of the Lamb of God who has taken away the sins of the world.  When the Bridegroom returns to take His Bride to the great wedding feast (the final confirmation of the covenant with a meal), He will present us to His Father in a radiant garment of white as the final proof of consummation on that blessed and glorious Day! 

"Hallelujah!

For our LORD God Almighty reigns.

Let us rejoice and be glad and give Him glory!

For the Wedding of the Lamb has come,

and His Bride has made herself ready.

Fine linen, bright and clean was given her to wear."

(Revelation 19:6-8)

Dearly beloved of the Most High God, there is power in His Blood and authority in His Name. These next two weeks as we journey through this powerful section of our marriage to the Lamb let us recommit our lives to the One who is Faithful and True, and declare with all our hearts: "We will do everything the Lord has said - we will obey" (Exodus 24:6).

Heavenly Father,

Holy is Your name.

We magnify You and give You all glory, honor and praise;

for it was not with perishable things such as silver

or gold that we were redeemed, but with the

precious blood of Christ, Your One and Only Son,

and our Beloved Bridegroom -

"Salvation is found in no one else,

for there is no other name under heaven given to men

by which we must be saved"

Continue to take us deeper in and higher up

into a more perfect and holy union with You .

 Purify our hearts and cleanse our lives

and help us to be faithful stewards

of the power and authority

we have been given in the precious

blood and priceless name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

May we honor You with repentant hearts

and turn back to You in full obedience and faithfulness,

 so that we will be found prepared and dressed

in that beautiful garment of white

on the glorious Day of our Bridegroom's return!

In the Holy and Mighty Name of Jesus Christ we pray, Amen.

(Acts 4:12; 1 Peter 1:18, 19)

I will betroth you in righteousness and justice,

in love and compassion.

I will betroth you in faithfulness,

and you will acknowledge the LORD."

(Hosea 2:19-20)