I Do

“Nothing in this whole wide world don’t mean a thing if I ain’t got you with me,” –Alicia Keys

Placing both legs in the silky hole, the woman pulls the white-tanked and laced dress up her back and gracefully swings her arms through the open slots. Her bridesmaid smiles as she gazes at the three-stranded set of pearls draping across the bride’s back. The bride was beautiful. Making sure her hair was pinned back to her specifications, she drew in a deep breath and closed her eyes. Now the veil. Another bridesmaid bestows the long and airy material upon the bride’s head as if this was the big day she would be announced a princess. After finishing touches of blush and gloss, the bride-to-be covered her neck and ears with pearls – her favorite. She stands in front of a mirror, who is often known for telling lies, but today was different. She felt radiant, and she was. She was going to be united with her prince. Not a trail of doubt stepped foot in her mind. She was ready.

Hearing her song on the piano, she knew it was time. Daddy wrapped his arm under hers and carried her heart down the aisle. Guests gazed at the lady in white, her bare feet touching the flower girl’s authentic petals as she walked. She had longed to see her groom’s face. Lost in each other’s eyes, the bride was enthralled by her lover. Nothing else mattered. Although she was happy guests filled the chairs left and right, her focus was set ahead. Nothing could shake this moment. Releasing from dad’s side, the bride took her stance on the alter and placed her hands in the groom’s. Exchanging their vows, the waiting ring of engagement was replaced with one of forever.

A man and woman in holy matrimony is a beautiful representation of the relationship between Christ and His bride (the church, also known as believers). The job of a man and woman in marriage — although it’s not seen in many marriages — is to display Christ. Weddings are beautiful and so meaningful, as well is our relationship with Jesus. As a Christian, I am engaged to my Lover, waiting for my forever, and if you are a Christian, so are you. We will one day be united with The King of Kings for eternity. Before a person accepts Christ, he/she may feel His cooing, whether it be once or ten times. Some people aren’t as eager as others to take His hand. They don’t trust Him, they’ve been hurt from another relationship, they don’t know how to go about a relationship like this, ect. Jesus keeps asking for your hand in marriage. Jesus gives you His vows — promises of loving you, (John 12:12-13) being your rock, your shelter, (2 Samuel 22:2-3, 22:32) never leaving you when times get tough (and they will) (Hebrews 13:5), promises of purpose, (Isaiah 43:7, Jeremiah 29:11, Matthew 5:13-16, Psalm 138:8) of one day being together in literal perfect harmony (John 3:16, 2 Corinthians 1:21-22, 2 Peter 3:13). If you haven’t given your life up to have true life, Jesus will keep asking you. He’s determined and is passionately in love with you.

“How beautiful you are, my darling! Oh, how beautiful! Your eyes behind your veil are doves.” –Song of Song 4:1

Jesus, the perfect Son of the Living God, knows we are sinners, but He doesn’t hesitate on His vows; He holds true to them. He brings people into an unbeliever’s life to be a light. He wants you, and He doesn’t give up. He’s pursuing your heart and wants it more than any person could ever dream of wanting anything. When one realizes he (or she) is in need of Jesus and confesses his sins, he’s willing to make a commitment back. He’s saying, “God, I’m a sinner, and I need you. I long to bask in Your love and share that with others.” It’s as though he is exchanging his wedding vows, a vow to follow Christ. He’s accepting Christ’s hand in marriage.

This is what it means to be a Christian — abandon self and follow. Think of the couple at the wedding. Hopefully, they realize their lives will not be the same. They will not just be meeting their own needs but now the needs of the partner. Here’s a difference between the couple and God and us: there is nothing in us that God needs; we do need Him. He chose us (John 15:16). What He does want is our heart. Giving Him our heart is not referring to just the big moment when we welcome Him in, but it’s also referring to the individual’s entire life. This is a commitment, such as when a man and woman engage in their ceremony. They don’t give each other their vows and then only speak to each other on occasion. They know each other’s crud and love them anyway. They communicate and live together.

“Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling,” –Philippians 2:12 In other words, continue to grow in God.

Before a person gets saved, all they have is them, and that’s nothing because Jesus says, “I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” Ouch. This may hurt our pride, but think of that as a good thing. God is molding His Beloveds to be more like Him. He’s braking the barriers (our sins) that hold us back from being close to Him. While a person can go without being married and is still just as valuable as one who is married, being a person without Christ leaves us stranded and without use.

A common misconception about Christianity is that going to church makes you a Christian. Going to church does not make you a Christian any more than being in a classroom makes you a teacher. Remember the phrase above, “I need you”? Yeah, these are the words of that once unbeliever breaking his pride. This is him saying he’s in need of someone who can handle anything, realizing he’s not claiming ‘top dog’ anymore, realizing really that he never was. Abandoning self means complete surrender to allow God to do whatever He wants. The Christian is taking his commitment seriously. Salvation is more than just a ticket to Heaven. It’s not just a “Cool, I got Jesus. Now I can go about living my life” kind of ordeal. I need this reminder as much as you reading this, in that giving your life to Jesus means you now believe your life no longer belongs to you. “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20. You’re living for The Greater, with the purpose of following the Leader and giving Him glory (thanking Him in everything).

If you’re scared of change, don’t be. I’m sometimes scared of change too. This change is worth everything. When I become a Christian, all my life was laid out on the floor. He saw my bad and ugly, and He gave me good: Him. I want to share with you how you can become a Christian and passionately follow the Love of your life, and if you’re ready, go for it.

Step 1: Realizing mankind is sinful

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.” –Romans 3:23-24

Step 2: Believing God sent His Son to die for our sins and rose from the dead

“But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” –Romans 5:8

“He is not here; he has risen, just as he said.” –Matthew 28:6

Step 3: Accept the gift

“For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of god is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

There are no perfect words to say when asking Jesus into your heart. If you believe in God’s Word and want a relationship with Christ, just ask. He will listen and takes you as you are, baggage and all. He wants to renovate your life and restore you in freedom.

If you asked Jesus into your heart, congratulations and welcome to the family! You have just made the most important decision one could ever make in a lifetime. Sin once controlled you, but now you are no longer dead in it, but you are alive in Christ! Your journey does not end here — it’s just beginning.

“For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but received the Spirit of sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.” The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children. Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.” –Romans 8:15-17