PHOTOPHILIC

The Bride

She accepted his proposal for a glorious "happily ever after." He was wealthy beyond her wildest dreams, powerful and totally good. He promised to love her, to never leave her, to provide her needs, to protect her. He'd proved his love to her by sacrificing everything for her well-being.

But then she ignored him. She lived her life six days of the week as if he didn't exist, allowing him a superficial visit one hour a week, during which she said the right words but only gave him her half-hearted attention; sometimes she even slept in and missed their date. He wanted to meet with her more often, but she was too busy, had too many more important things to do. She ignored his love letters and his attempts to contact her. She refused to acknowledge to her friends that she even knew him. She felt that her life was her own to do as she pleased, and she locked him out. She spent her time and energy and resources pleasing herself, building her own life apart from him. She took his gifts, but gave her attention and affection to others.When she got into trouble, then she'd call him. When she wanted something, she'd ask him to pull out his checkbook, like a year-round Santa Claus. If he said "no" because her wants weren't in her best interest, she'd turn her back on him and refuse to speak to him. She behaved in ways that embarrassed him and brought shame to his reputation. She didn't think much about their future together.

In the Biblical Middle East, a prospective husband would pay a great price for a bride. When a woman accepted a groom's proposal, he would go build a home for them. During that betrothal time, she belonged to him in every way but the physical. She spent her days preparing for their life together, watching eagerly to see when he'd return for the actual wedding, to take her to their new home and carry her over the threshold.

When Jesus said, "I go to prepare a place for you, that where I am, there you may be also," He was speaking to His beloved: the believers who have accepted His offer of an eternal relationship. That relationship begins NOW, not by-and-by in the sky. Yes, He longs for that time when we'll be with Him, but from the moment we become "born again," He wants to be intimately a part of our lives.

But how do we, Christians in American society, respond?