The Long Walk of Love

When my wife walked down the aisle on our wedding day, I vaguely remember watching her father.  I am certain he held her arm the entire way, but to be honest I was too busy looking at the bride.  She was beautiful!  But her father was there.  In fact, before he took his seat beside my mother-in-law he stood near us and sang an amazing rendition of The Lord’s Prayer.

Now that time has passed and my own daughter is about to take the same walk, I have been thinking more about what might have been on my father-in-law’s mind as he walked down that aisle.  I know he was proud.  But did he want to slip out the back with his daughter and find a place where time stood still?  Did he wonder if anyone could possibly love her more than he did?  Was he happy?  Was He sad?  I need to ask him soon.  On second thought, I will find out soon enough.

At the moment we make Jesus Lord of our lives, we embark on a spiritual journey of eternal proportions.  In our case, the Father presents us to Himself, cleansed of our sin through His Son’s blood.  We don’t have to wonder how He feels about us since He has told us through the writings of the Apostle Paul: “For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love ⁵he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– ⁶ to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves” (Ephesians 1:4-6).

Yet, the long walk of love into the presence of our Savior surely must be an emotional one for the Father.  He sees us struggle, stumble and weep and shares in our victories and joys.  Surely His heart has been broken in seasons of persecutions, and again in times of apostasy.  At times, I am convinced God has prompted a heavenly chorus of angels to cheer us on, to pick us up; even to rescue us from danger.

Some have finished the walk and stand in His presence awaiting the final feast.  Others continue the journey, fixing their eyes on Jesus, the “author and perfecter” of our faith (Hebrews 12:2).