It’s 7:00. I’ve had a long, busy day at work. I went in a little early – not much – and after waking up a little late this morning, it’s been go, go, go since my feet hit the floor. Yesterday was like that too. My conversations with Adam have been mostly over text message – at lunch, after work, while we ran our separate ways to get to meetings and trainings and various obligations.
It’s 7:15, and I keep thinking I’m hearing his car. There’s a red truck that’s gone by twice now, and haha, I guess our “old” Impala is sounding just that bad. Dinner is finishing up on the oven and in the stove, laundry is in the works, and my ears and eyes keep turning to the driveway.
I thought about how silly people would think I am if posted something in that regard on Facebook. I thought about how people still look at us as newly weds after 3 years and how my calling Adam “Love” still gets us rolled eyes. I’ve decided I don’t really care.
I’ve come to the place where I am thankful for that anticipation, and I’m humbled by the realization that my relationship with my husband is far from the norm. Too many couples, both young and old, have come to a place in their relationship with their spouses that could not care if the other came or went. Too many show feel no anticipation with the arrival of the one they love.
As I was thinking through this sobering thought, I was challenged to encourage other young husbands and wives to never get to that place of complacency. As I thought about that, I further remembered that Christ is often referred to as the Groom in the New Testament (John 3:29, Mark 2:19, Matthew 9:15, and Luke 5:34).
In fact, Matthew 25 is the perfect warning against losing the first love of the Holy Groom, Christ, and growing lax in our desire to see His face.
Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour. Matthew 25:1-13
Here some of the women became lax, weren’t prepared, hadn’t done everything possible to prepare for the coming of the Groom, and when He came, they weren’t ecstatic. In fact, they weren’t even there! They were off cleaning up from there lack of preparation.
Never before tonight did I view this story as so personal. I have previously thought through the concept of being prepared for His return, but never have I realized before tonight that that preparation (much like how I did all those tasks like laundry, dishes, etc.) was to ensure that those virgins would have uninterrupted, quality time with the Groom. The motivation was love and the anticipation was high.
So, how much am I anticipating His return? As much as I’m anticipating the return of my earthly husband? How much does my love for Him fuel my actions in preparation for His coming? As much as my love for my earthly husband has me scurrying around finishing chores, so we can relax together when I finally get to see him?
What about you?
Making My Boast 