Good morning everyone, God bless you one and all. I rejoice and give thanks every day for this place of fellowship. I am addicted to the body of Christ that thrives here. Praise God. I admit it. I love each and every one of you, I really do. Ok, now to my subject. What is 95, 92, and a knot all about? My wife and I are co-mangers of an independent retirement home here in Baton Rouge. We have over 90 residents and it's a wonderful place to live and work. Yes, we live on site. Our oldest resident is 101, a man named John. He get's along very well and has a real joyful spirit. Our oldest lady, Ermalee is 96, and she too is wonderful and get's around real good. Last evening, I had the joyful privilege of presiding over the wedding of a couple here. The man is 95, the lady is 92 and last evening, before me and witnesses they tied the knot. The gentlemen is a lawyer and former judge. The lady is a former professor at LSU. Both are delightful people and have been interested in each other ever since the lady moved in a couple years ago. They each had their own apartment. Of late they have rented a two bedroom apartment and set it up as home for them both. Can I just share with you what a privilege this was for me to take part in this event? I was so blessed. It was a small private wedding per their wishes. We plan on having a reception for them here in a couple weeks so that the residents can celebrate with them. But all went well. It was my first wedding as a minister, and I assure you, I will never forget it. As I was preparing for this wedding, naturally I was seeking the Lord for guidance on how I could minister briefly and yet meaningfully to those gathered for the wedding. The couple had asked that I be brief. I know you have never heard me preach, but if you had, you would know it's very difficult for me to be brief. I get to preach so infrequently that I have such a reservoir built up, I want to just break open the damn and flood everything in sight. The Lord began to move on my heart about the comparison of the man and woman becoming "one" and the believer and the Lord becoming "one". These two miraculous relationships are undeniable mysteries to anyone who has participated in either one or both. Yet they are very real and certain. It's not something that we can understand completely, but it simply cannot be denied. The completeness of the image of God is only revealed when the man and the woman come together in marriage. A man by himself cannot reveal this, nor can a woman alone. It takes both in union and in unity, following the Holy Spirit day by day to reveal the complete image of God for His glory and good pleasure as we were created to do. That does not mean that a single person is deficient in God's eyes. Absolutely not. But a single man can only present characteristics of God that are prevelant to his own nature as a man. It's the same with a single woman. A man alone cannot bring forth human life, nor can a woman alone bring human life. But when the two become one, then and only then is new life possible. It's a miracle, yet undeniable truth. Beloved, it's the exact same thing with our God and His relationship to us. In fact, in His Holy Word, we are called His bride, and He our groom. He gave Himself to us 2000 years ago. He waits for us to fall in love with Him, and leave all others to be His alone. Marriage of a man of God and a woman of God cannot tolerate infidelity. Some make it last, but it's never the same once one or both of the partners venture outside their own bedroom to another. They can be forgiven, and God can heal. But it's like breaking an egg, you just cannot put it back in the shell. It's the same with God, beloved. Infidelity puts a huge strain on the marriage. When we go whoring after other loves, I can't help but know that it brings tears into the eyes of our beloved Groom. How do I know? Because He has allowed me to feel that pain, that grief, that sadness of spirit. Yes, we can be forgiven and the marriage survive. But it's not the same to us, and we know it. See, Jesus expects us to love Him and He alone, and rightly so, considering the dowry He presented to the Father for us. He is a jealous God and watches over us with a jealous love. How His heart must ache, when we would rather spend time with other people, other things, and foolish pursuits, rather than stealing away to be intimate with Him at every opportunity. Now you're probably wondering, was I "brief" last night? Yes, thank God. I just reminded them that there were no relationships so parallel as the wedding and the born again experience, two becoming one. It probably lasted less than a minute. That in and of itself was a small miracle. :) The wedding was lovely, and when the groom kissed the bride, she cried. :) Are you ready for the groom to come? Is your lamp full of oil to go out to meet Him? Is there purity and holiness in your relationship that only God can provide? Are you presenting Him garments that have been washed in the blood? Will He be full and complete in His joy to see you? Will He prize your faithfulness to Him? Or must He forgive, as only He can? If you need forgiveness, beloved, now is the time to make it right. Unlike us, the Lord Jesus Christ can completely amend our relationship with Him, if only we ask. He has the extrordinary ability to put away our infidelity and never remember it again, ever, never. Don't wait for Him to come for you.....to make it right. Is your extra marital love or idolatry worth jeopardizing the your marriage to the King of kings and Lord of lords? Run to Him in your heart. For there.....He waits.......for you.
