September 19

My beautiful niece got married to her perfect mate yesterday. It was getting close to the time for the wedding to begin, so I decided to go and check on my sister and make sure she was okay. When I got there, I found the bridesmaids on the deck overlooking the salt marsh, and they were in a bit of a panic; the ribbon from the bouquet had gotten wet, and the dye had dripped on her white gown, leaving stains. It was terrible; a blemish that couldn’t be hidden or covered and must be removed. I watched as her friends worked furiously and pulled out all the stops to remove the stains. When she walked down the aisle, there wasn’t a stain to be seen; the bridesmaids had come together to restore her beauty.

One day, we will all walk down the aisle as the bride to meet our Savior, the bridegroom. We cannot possibly stand before him stained with sin. The bridesmaids throughout our time have tried to help us to remove the blemishes by telling us about how Jesus could wash us clean by his blood and become saved. One day he will present us to his Father unblemished and wholly restored to the beauty he had intended when he created us. To the sinner, we should be like the bridesmaids and help restore the lost to the beauty God had designed so we can walk down the aisle perfectly pristine to our Savior, Jesus.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root and the descendant of David, the bright morning star.” The Spirit and the Bride say, “Come.” And let the one who hears say, “Come.” And let the one who is thirsty come; let the one who desires take the water of life without price. Revelation 22:16-17