Dear Morning Devotion Group: This is the last post for “The Father and the Bride.”  A new study will commence Monday.  I have already edited all of my posts into the form of a single manuscript.  If you would like the whole thing to read let me know.  Blessings, Larry

The Apostle John’s vision of the Lamb’s supper reminds us that day will be more about “why” than “what.”  When I was a child, I was mostly concerned with the “what” of life’s celebrations.  On my birthday I wanted to know what I was going to receive and what we were going to eat.  As I matured I came to realize the best parties are about purpose, not presents.  Even though my wife and I planned birthday parties for our own children, while they looked forward to toys and cake, we were focused on showing them how thankful we were to have them in our lives.  Of course, some adults never outgrow the self-centeredness of childhood, and some children put adults to shame with their generosity, but the difference between these two attitudes is nonetheless distinct.

Some believers obsess over the details of Jesus’ return and devise carefully thought out schemes through biblical interpretation.  While there is value in discerning historical seasons as we wait for the end to come (Matthew 24:32), the details of the “what” can consume us with human pride.  On the other hand, when we fasten our eyes on Jesus, the “why”, we care a whole lot more about being with Him than figuring out exactly how we are going to get there.

In the long walk of love, everything we do is for Jesus.  He gave Himself up for us to present us holy and blameless before His Father.  He continues to protect us from the evil one and sanctifies us through the indwelling Spirit.  From time to time we catch a glimpse of some great truth and make better sense of the days ahead, but in the end we just want to be with the Lord.  Our hearts resonate with the Apostle Paul who wrote, “Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.  Therefore we are always confident and know that as long as we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord.  We live by faith, not by sight.  We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord.  So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home in the body or away from it” (2 Corinthians 5:5-9).

It will be a feast the world has never seen nor could have seen.  Evil will be cast down, suffering will end, and we will join with the praise of the multitudes as our Bridegroom wipes our tears from our faces.  Our fears and failures won’t matter anymore.  They will vanish when our faith ends in sight and grace gives way to glory.

The Father loves the Bride and gave His Son up for her.  The Bride loves the Father and the Son, and waits patiently for the announcement of His return.  Until then, she walks by faith and invites others to join with her.  And in her heart, she is already there, standing at the eternal altar with the One who gave His life.  Until then Jesus!  Until then!