Who Needs A Fancy Wedding Dress?

     My daughter is getting married this spring. She could do this without wearing an ornate, white gown she'll only wear one day in her life--so why go to all that trouble and expense? Because, when I walk my beloved daughter down the aisle so that she may commit herself to one special man for life, we will be acting out a drama as ancient as creation and as glorious as the Second Coming of Christ for his Church:

"But for Adam no suitable helper was found. . . . Then the LORD God made a woman from the rib he had taken from the man, and he brought her to the man." --Genesis 2:20b, 22 NIV

"Hallejuah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice 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 19:6b-8a NIV

     Each one of us who chooses to put his or her trust in Christ's sacrifice of himself to wash away all our sins is made as white as snow in the sight of our holy God. My already lovely daughter will dress in pure white and do all in her power to make herself beautiful for her husband, for in their wedding he plays the part of Christ receiving his bride, and she represents the Church--all of us he has forgiven so completely as a free gift of his grace! "The blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us from all sin," and we cannot get any purer than that.
 

Pastor Charlie Scott