I heard the sounds of hurried steps. I looked around at the columns
that held strong a white stone palace. I saw a woman running with long strides.
Her dress was white, flowing softly and angelically. Her hair in curls with
small white flowers woven throughout. She was adorned with silver and gold
cuffs. As beautiful the sight of this Grecian princess, it was the way she
moved that caught my attention. At first when she ran past I assumed she was
late for something or being chased by someone, because no one would expend that
kind of energy unless they had too. But as her face quickly turned back to meet
my gaze I saw something I wasn’t prepared to see. She smiled back at me as
though she had great news and maybe even a secret that would change the world. But
only had time for an excited motion with her hand for me to follow. Then she
quickly turned her gaze to the path ahead. She was so excited and so determined
to get wherever she was going that all I could do was completely forget what I
was doing so I could follow her.
I could barely keep up and amazingly enough she didn’t even
seem to break a sweat or be out of breath. Whatever it was that she was running
towards must be worth a great deal. Perhaps a treasure. Others started to join the pursuit. I didn’t
know their motive, maybe it was fear that something bad was coming or that they
would miss something great. Maybe it was the thrill of it all or that others
were doing it so they wanted to be part of something. Maybe it was that they
had nothing other to do and the curiosity had overcome them too. I noticed that
as she ran up some stairs and through corridors, the pursuit of her was more difficult and many of those who were just
along for the ride began to lose interest. But her determination to pursue this
unseen treasure was unlike anything I had ever seen.
Soon we came to a very large courtyard. A marvelous
staircase led up to a beautiful doorway. Many people were sitting all along the
stairs, some standing even but she ran passed them all and entered the door. I slowly walked the steps, enjoying the
company of those around me. It was comfortable at the steps, it was easy to
want to stay outside and be with others that seemed very content to stay just
outside the door. But I had to know where she went and why she was so excited. As
I drew closer to the door I could see more people inside. They were singing. It
was ominous, it was joyous, it was peaceful, sheltered from any storm. But it
was not intimate, it was large and crowded with others who had gathered for the
safety and warmth.
Just then I saw just a glimpse of the woman run straight
into another room at the very back of this chamber. I followed but when I
arrived at the door I noticed a line of people just standing at the door. On
the floor a torn curtain lay at my feet. The woman had run into this room but
others were acting as though their was still a curtain standing in their way. They
would say, “What do you think is in there? I wish I could know how it feels,
sounds and looks in the inner court.” I was confused because I could see right
into the room and didn’t have to guess but when I looked again at those who
were in confusion, they were wearing veils and could not see clearly. They
could not even see me as I entered into that inner court.
Upon entering that Holy place I saw the woman run and leap
into the arms of her one true love. He spun her around with an embrace that
makes all other attempts at embracing seem week. I was captivated by the scene.
I watched as he gently brushed away a stray ringlet of hair away from her eyes
and embraced her face with both hands. “I have been waiting for you here.” He said
softly. “My beautiful bride!”
In a single moment of surrender as I collapsed to my knees and
wept with desire to be that bride. I looked up to a loving suitor wiping my
tear and taking my hand. As I rose, I went from the spectator to the bride. The
rags of my former life had withered away like a dying plant in the extreme heat
of the sun. Underneath it all I was wearing a garment of white. I was pure and
in his sight I was so very loved.
From that moment on I was the bride running to the inner
court every day to be with my true love. And one day, in one glorious moment in time I
will finally hear the procession music as I walk down the aisle to be
completely his.
Church we are the bride of Christ and if we do not know how
very exciting it is or how very beautiful we are, or how very loved we are by
our king, then we have not been this bride who understands that the veil was
torn so that we could enter into his presence. I don’t want to be the bride
just outside the door. with her veil that hides who the groom is and hides who his
bride is. I want to see his face and hear his voice. I want to understand how great his love is for
me.
I don’t want to be
the ones in the outer court just using my Christianity for a shelter from the
storm. Feeling safe from the outside but never knowing my God deeply.
I don’t want to
gather just outside the gate on the very steps of his kingdom. I want to run to
him! Every day I want to leap into the arms of the lover of my soul. It is a
great treasure, a great prize of unsurpassable glory. There is no other thing
worthy of our desire. And on that day when he takes his bride I will not be
caught unprepared or unaware, only completely enthralled that for every moment
for the rest of my life I get to spend it in the arms of my Lord.
Matthew 27:50,51
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
51 At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, the rocks split
2 Corinthians 3:16-18
But whenever anyone turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. 17 Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. 18 And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate[] the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.
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