​It’s gold; it’s shiny.  It sparkles in the sunlight and is beautiful to behold.  Containing precious stones and real gold, this object can cost a small fortune and is a token of love, commitment, and promise.  Can you guess what I’m talking about?
 
The engagement ring is probably the most fantasized object in the bride’s wardrobe, with the wedding dress being a close second.  Girls and ladies ooh and awe over it, and the groom proudly displays it for all to see.  Traditionally a band of gold with sparkling diamonds on top, this small object has become a status symbol.  A statement that she’s taken.  A reminder that he loves me.  A declaration that she said “Yes!”  And a promise of commitment for the rest of life.  

​While the engagement ring stands for so many things, at the end of the day, it’s a promise—a promise that he’s coming back and you’re getting married.  It’s a tangible token of heartfelt commitment and a physical object guaranteeing a spoken promise.  While humans are sinful and fickle and many engagements have been broken off, the intention of the engagement ring is to remind the wearer of an agreement that will not be broken. 
 
In a similar way, the Holy Spirit is our engagement ring.   It is the guarantee and surety of our hope.  While it may not be as tangible as a gold circlet, it is just as real.  And just as a bride looks at her engagement ring with expectation and hope and wears it everywhere, so also we, as Christ’s Bride, should daily be filled with the Holy Spirit and remember the promises He has made to us.  Here’s what Paul says about our spiritual “engagement ring.”

​Is the word engagement ring used in this passage?  No, but the concept is. The Greek word translated as guarantee can also be translated as “deposit, pledge, guarantee, earnest.”  While we recognize most of these words, the word earnest is not in our daily vocabulary.  It is an old English word that means “something of value given by a buyer to a seller to bind a bargain” (Merriam-Webster Dictionary).  A similar word in our culture would be surety, which is a valuable asset that can legally be taken if one fails to follow through on a guarantee.
 
Therefore, the Holy Spirit is a down payment promising a return.  It is something of immeasurable value that God gives us as a symbol of His promise to never leave us or forsake us.  It is also the Lord’s pledge to us, a promise that He will return for His Bride one day.  Finally, the Holy Spirit is a symbol to the world that we are taken. 
 
 
Throughout the Bible, God tells us that He has sealed us by giving us the Holy Spirit.  This sealing is a sign to us and to a watching world that we are taken and claimed by Christ. In II Corinthians and Ephesians, Paul also tells us that the Holy Spirit is our seal or mark of belonging.  It’s what sets us apart from the rest of the world.  

“and who has also put his seal on us and given us his Spirit in our hearts as a guarantee.”
~II Corinthians 1:22
 
“And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.”
~Ephesians 4:30

​The literal meaning of the Greek word for seal:  “to stamp (with a signet or private mark) for security or preservation (literal or figurative)” (Strong’s Dictionary).  Do you feel special, loved, and protected?  You should!  The Holy Spirit is God’s way of marking us for Himself.  It is a sign that claims us as His and warns the enemy not to mess with us.  It is a stamp of protection and promise.
 
Are you beginning to see how precious the Holy Spirit is in your life?  Not only is it a helper and powerful force to guide you in this life as a Christian, but it is your spiritual engagement ring!  It is a semi-tangible reminder of your Bridegroom who has promised to love you forever.  You are not alone; your heavenly Bridegroom will return for you and in the meantime, He has left you the Holy Spirit as a pledge and reminder of His promises. 
 
Therefore, the next time you feel alone, forgotten, unseen, and overlooked, remember the Holy Spirit which is your promise from God that you are seen, loved, cherished, and chosen.  So when you see a shiny physical engagement ring, think of your own glorious, invaluable spiritual one and set your heart and mind on the One who gave it to you.  Jesus loves you and is coming back for you, so walk in the joy and love that He’s promised and wear your spiritual engagement ring—the Holy Spirit—daily, with pride and eager expectation of all that it represents.

​I’ve gone to several weddings this summer.  And each time as I watch the beautifully arrayed bride walk down the aisle to her groom, my mind is pushed forward the day when we, as Christ’s Bride, will walk down the aisle of heaven to meet our glorious Bridegroom.  What a day that will be!

​One of the most notable features of a bride is her splendid wedding gown.  Snow white and elegant, the wedding dress is a picture of the bride’s purity and fidelity.  It is and will be the most beautiful dress the bride possesses and is only worn for that one special day.  Many brides search high and low for the perfect dress and finding it becomes one of the highest priorities leading up to the wedding. 
 
However, in our case we are unworthy of such a gown, let alone the Groom we will be meeting at the end of the aisle.  Our spiritual lives were once lived out on the streets and mire.  We were mere slaves to our master of sin and coated with the filth and muck that lifestyle brought with it.  Yet Christ came and ransomed us, He invited us to His home, and wooed our hearts.  He asked us to be His Bride despite our past, despite our unclean condition, despite what we once were.  This in itself is a miracle!
 
But now as we prepare for that glorious wedding day, what have we to wear for this special occasion?  We will be meeting the King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Victor over death, and only Son of God at the end of that heavenly aisle!  What would we—former slaves and peasants—have to wear that would be fitting to meet our heavenly Bridegroom?  We don’t own anything beautiful or clean—in fact all that we have are filthy rags.  So what will we wear for this special, once-in-a-lifetime experience?
 
The answer is found in Revelation 19:7-8a:

​Jesus gave us our wedding gown!  We did not find it, own it, or make it on our own, but Jesus granted it to us.  And not only did He give us fine linen, bright and pure, but He also enabled us to wear these garments of purity.  He washed us and cleansed us by His blood so that our former state of filth and muck would not hinder us from wearing white—bridal white for purity, sanctification, and righteousness.  Christ not only lavished His love upon us by choosing us though we were unworthy, but He also made us worthy and able to share in His glory.  This is a difficult concept and truth to adequately convey, but Casting Crowns so powerfully and eloquently summarizes it in the last line of the second verse of their song “Wedding Day”:

​There’s not much more that can be added to this poignant fact, so I won’t attempt to.  But it speaks volumes about Christ’s love for us and all that He’s done that we are undeserving of. 
 
So in closing, as we continue to explore the significance of being Christ’s Bride, I pray that you will be humbled and amazed at Christ’s love and care for us—that though it was once impossible, we will wear white on our wedding day and be spotless and pure.  And may the rest of the song “Wedding Day” turn your heart towards your Groom and ready your spirit for that blessed occasion when we will meet Him at the end of the aisle of heaven and join Him for eternity.  What a glorious day that will be!

"Wedding Day"
by Casting Crowns
There’s a stirring in the throne room
And all creation holds it’s breath
Waiting now to see the bride groom
Wondering how the bride will dress
And she wears white
And she knows that she’s undeserving
She bears the shame of history
But this worn and weary maiden
Is not the bride that he sees
And she wears white, head to toe
But only he could make it so

She has danced in golden castles
And she has crawled through beggar’s dust
But today she stands before him
And she wears his righteousness
And she will be who he adores
This is what he made her for

When someone dries your tears
When someone wins your heart
And says your beautiful
When you don’t know you are
And all you’ve longed to see
Is written on his face
When love has come and finally set you free
On that wedding day
On that wedding day

When the hand that bears the only scars
And heaven touch her face
And the last tears she’ll ever cry
Are finally wiped away
And the clouds roll back as he takes her hand
And walks her through the gates
Forever we will reign

​We’ve talked about the Bride, who she is and her former condition, but what about the Groom?  Who is He?  What has He done to woo the Bride?  Where is He now?  These are the questions that we shall begin to uncover, and today we shall start uncovering the identity of our heavenly Bridegroom.  

The Bride of Christ.  It’s a term that is widely used and voiced within Christian circles, and as we’ve learned in this series, it is referring to the Church as Christ’s chosen Bride.  While this term does generate awe, amazement, and joy in our position as Christ’s Bride, it focuses solely on our position and tends to overlook the fact that Christ is our Bridegroom—an even greater wonder.
 
Have you stopped and truly marveled not only at your position as Christ’s Bride, but also Christ’s relationship as your Groom? 
 
From the days of Moses and David, who would have dreamed that we could claim Jesus, the Son of the living God, as our Groom?  Who would have imagined that the One who made the universe would join Himself for eternity with His fallen creation?  Who would have thought that the King of Kings would choose for Himself a Bride among the poor waifs and slaves?  Who would have predicted that the One before whom every knee will bow and every soul will tremble would enter into a loving betrothal with those who would accept Him?
 
It is unimaginable and unfathomable, yet true. 
 
Before we can begin to grasp this wonder of wonders, we must first have an adequate understanding of Jesus’ identity.  Savior.  Emmanuel.  Redeemer.  Sustainer.  Creator.  Word.  Life.  The Beginning and the End.  Son of God.  Second Person of the Trinity.  King of Kings.  Lord of Lords.  These are just a few of His titles.  Existing from eternity past and into eternity future, Jesus is the Ruler, Redeemer, and Restorer of our fallen race.
 
He is all these things and more.  And though it can be so difficult to justly and accurately describe One so far beyond our finite understanding and intellect, Dr. S. M.  Lockeridge does a excellent job in his sermon "That's My King":

​This is who He is—our Savior, our Redeemer, our Lord.  The One to whom belongs honor, worship, praise, adoration, and righteous fear.  Yet at the same time, He has chosen to become our Bridegroom; to enter into sincere and intimate relationship with us—a broken and fallen race; to step down from His rightful place as Ruler and Sovereign and instead become betrothed husband, beloved, and heavenly Groom.  Wonder beyond wonders, and mystery beyond mysteries!  What a priceless gift and treasure that we must not take for granted!
 
So do you know who you’re engaged to?  Or is He a complete stranger? Are you actively pursuing a relationship with your heavenly Bridegroom?
 
Christ willingly and humbly chose to take on the position as our Bridegroom, therefore, the least we can do is get to know Him and actively pursue a relationship with Him.  Whether you’ve just entered into relationship with your heavenly Groom or have been cultivating one for many years, we can all fall deeper in love with the One who first loved us.  Therefore, take some time to dwell on the person, character, and nature of Jesus Christ, and then be re-amazed at the fact that He is also your heavenly Bridegroom!

“And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy.”
~Hosea 2:19 

​Now it’s your turn to share…how do you view your eternal Bridegroom?  What adjectives would you use to describe Him?  If someone asked you, “Who is Jesus?” how would you respond?

Dear Sister and Faithful Reader,
 
I apologize for the long silence and lengthy period of inactivity on this topic.  Since launching this project, life happened and I lost much of my enthusiasm.  However, I am now ready to dive back into exploring this wonderful concept of being engaged to a heavenly Bridegroom.

This is a message and concept I am very passionate about, and one I feel is lacking in the world around us.  My purpose in sharing this message is not to lecture to whoever will listen, but to encourage you in keeping your eyes fixed on Jesus, especially in the realm of relationships, future desires, and dreams of marriage.  But in order to adequately serve you and move forward in this I need your help! 
 
First, I would covet your honest feedback on how I can improve this message and section to better encourage you right now.  Are there any topics or questions you’d like my opinion on?  Do you have any suggestions on how I can improve the format and presentation of points to more powerfully impact you?  (If you would prefer not to make your suggestions and feedback public, you can use the survey field at the bottom of the post rather than the comment section.)
 
The other thing I need your help in is continued interaction.  I am going to incorporate Disqus for comments.  So if you do not have a Disqus account I’d highly encourage you to start one, but you won’t need an account to comment.  It’s free, easy to use, and incorporated on different blogs and websites (e.g. TheRebelution.com).  I’m moving to this commenting platform because it is more interactive and user friendly.  And I want more of your comments!  :)  I don’t want to be standing up on my soapbox alone.  Your input, added perspective, and feedback is important to me and to the development of this project. 
 
So please get involved and interact with us here on Engaged to a Heavenly Bridegroom!  And together, let’s make this an encouraging, Christ-centered haven and oasis where we can escape the cares of this world and revel in the fact that we’ve been chosen as the Bride for the King of Kings!

Joyfully in Christ,
Kristin

It’s been a while since we’ve visited and discussed this topic.  However, I hope that since the last post, you’ve been able to ponder and consider the question:  How would you describe the bride’s background and former condition?  If not, please review our last post here.
 
So to recap, we’ve been using an allegory to learn and gain insight into our relationship with Christ as our Groom and we as His Bride.  We’ve seen that the Bride is arrayed in bridal splendor with a beaming countenance and joy in her eyes.  However, this was not her former condition.  

On the contrary, she was a poor waif living a life of drudgery, poverty, and absolute misery.  Instead of wearing fine, clean garments, she clothed herself with rags covered in dirt and grime and smelling of the sewage in which she lived.  Her life was lived out in slavery to an overbearing master, and her heart was made hard from the pain, bitterness, and hardship of her life.  She had no hope of escape, no one who loved her, and no aspirations of a happily ever after. 
 
But then one day, everything changed.
 
A Savior stepped into her life and offered her a way out.  While in her state of poverty, filth, and slavery, He asked her to become His Bride and join Him in a better life.  And she said, “Yes!”  So He bought her freedom with His blood, and brought her into His Father’s house where she received cleansing from her life of dirt and grime, fresh new garments of luxury to wear, and sweet smelling perfume.  She was no longer a slave, but the daughter of a King and future Bride of a Prince. 
 
This is our bride’s story; but she is not the only one with this story, you are the Bride of Christ, and the girl in the allegory.  So do you see yourself mirrored in this metaphor?  No?  Well, let’s break this down together and see how our former condition was exactly the same.
 
Before knowing Christ…

• Dressed in rags.  The Bible tells us that our own righteousness is like filthy rags to the Lord.  “All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.”  (Isaiah 64:6 NIV 84)
• Covered with dirt and grime.   Our lives were once covered and saturated with sin.  It dirtied our lives, made us miserable, and unclean.  “Both we and our fathers have sinned; we have committed iniquity; we have done wickedness. … Thus they became unclean by their acts.” (Psalm 106: 6, 49a)​
• Enslaved to an overbearing master.  We were once slaves to sin with Satan as our cruel, overbearing master.  (Romans 6)

 
After…

• Dressed in beauty and clean.  When we put our faith and trust in Him, Christ washed us and replaced our dirty vestments with His perfection.  “And the angel said to those who were standing before him, ‘Remove the filthy garments from him.’  And to him he said, ‘Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.’”  (Zechariah 3:4)  “I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.”  (Ezekiel 36:25)
• Covered in sweet smelling perfume.   We are covered in the fragrance of Christ.  A sweet smelling perfume to our fellow believers and to God.  “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing.”  (II Corinthians 2:15)
• Daughter to a King.  We have been adopted as children of God.  “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.  And because you are sons, God has sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, crying, ‘Abba! Father!’  So you are no longer a slave, but a son [or daughter], and if a son, then an heir through God.”  (Galatians 4:4-7)
• Engaged to a Prince.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace, King of Kings, and Lord of Lords, and He is our promised Bridegroom.  “Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure.”  (Revelation 19:7-8a)

 
Do you see yourself now?  Do you see how far the Lord has brought you and what He’s done for you?!  Are you amazed by the absurdity of it all?  That the King of Kings, the Prince of Peace would choose for Himself a girl from the mire and cesspool of sin and make her beautiful, spotless, clean, and His chosen Bride!  This is the amazing testimony of our story, the astounding fact of our current status, and the wonderful grace and love of God.  So are you not yet teary eyed and joy filled by the love of your Bridegroom?!  Do you now more fully grasp how miraculous it is to be called the Bride of Christ, and the significance of what that actually means?
 
If not, just wait!  We have much more to study and learn on this topic.  So until next time…  

“The nations shall see your righteousness, and all the kings your glory, and you shall be called by a new name that the mouth of the LORD will give.  You shall be a crown of beauty in the hand of the LORD, and a royal diadem in the hand of your God.  You shall no more be termed Forsaken, and your land shall no more be termed Desolate, but you shall be called My Delight Is in Her, and your land Married; for the LORD delights in you, and your land shall be married.  For … as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you.”
~Isaiah 62:2-5​

​Do you remember our allegory from last time?  Well, just in case you don’t, I’ve included it below.  We’ll be going back to this allegory throughout the series, so for future reference, please note that it will be available on the Outline page.  

​In this allegory, what did you see from point of view given you?  You saw a young woman dressed in the elegance and finery of a distinguished bride, right?  However, this was not always her condition.  The girl in our story did not always wear the jewelry and attire of affluence—quite the opposite, actually.  She came from the very lowest class of society, and was more used to wearing rags and dirt than dresses and jewelry.  So what brought about the dramatic change?  And how did a girl wearing rags and dirt get engaged to man of affluence and wealth?  These are the questions we’re going to look at in this next installment of the bride-to-be’s story.  And we’re merely going to look at the answers to these questions, but more specifically consider and study the condition of our bride before and after the event that changed her life forever.  Because we will not be able to truly appreciate what took place in the life of the bride until we understand her history.
 
However, in order to make this study more thought provoking and gather more reader participation, before I share the rest of this post, I’m going to ask you:  

How would you describe the bride’s background and former condition?

Remember that we have already discovered that we—you and I—are the Bride, and that our ​groom Jesus, so with that in mind take some time to really ponder the question I posed to you…   When you have your answer, please share it with us by using the comment box below.  I look forward to reading your thoughts on this matter!

Picture yourself in a park—walking along the pathways and enjoying the beautiful gardens and fall colors.  Then, as you’re going about and minding your own business, the most beautifully dressed, beaming bride walks quickly past you.  As you watch her travel down the path, you can’t get over how joyful, excited, and simply radiant the young woman dressed in white looked nor can you forget the distant gleam in her eye.  Also, you remember noticing the huge diamond ring shimmering on her finger, and you can’t help wondering who the groom is and what he must be like in order to ignite so much wonder, excitement, and distraction.  Based on the size and beauty of the engagement ring, you guess that the groom must be rather wealthy.  So you wonder, who is this bride and what is her story that she—a girl obviously engaged to a very affluent man and decked out in all her bridal finery—would be walking in your humble city park?

​Now you may smile at this hypothetical story and think, “What a sweet story.  But news flash, this is complete fiction and doesn’t really happen in everyday life.”  But, ladies, while I may have conjured up this particular example from my imagination, the cast, the elements, and the descriptions represented are not fiction, but depict a reality that few recognize.  This is not simply a made up story, but actually an allegory to who we are as Christ’s Bride and what the watching world ought to see.  The world is looking at us from the perspective that I gave you in the allegory, and they should be wondering at our position as an elegantly adorned and glowing bride.  However, the disappointing thing is that we—as the bride in the story—are often not as filled with joy, excitement, and wonder as I portrayed, and thus the world does not question and speculate at who we are and what our story is.  Maybe you don’t recognize yourself as the exuberant bride in this allegory and are perhaps thinking, “That can’t be me, because I sure don’t feel like a well-loved bride-to-be dressed in wedding finery.”  Whether that’s you or whether you’re confident in your position as Christ’s Bride, we’re going to explore the answers to the questions I posed in the allegory.  So before jumping down to the next paragraph, go back and re-read the allegory at the beginning of this post.
 
The first question we’re going to answer is:  who is this bride?  The Bible tells us that the Church is the Bride of Christ, and as a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, you are a member of Christ’s Church.  So all that God says is true about His Church is true about you too.  Therefore, going back to the question of “Who is this bride?” the answer is that she is you. 
 
Did you catch that and its significance?  Give it a moment to sink in.  You, not your neighbor or close friend that you look up to, but you—as a born again believer in the Lord Jesus Christ—are His Bride.  You are the young woman in our allegory wearing resplendent clothing and a gigantic diamond ring.  And like her, you’re the one who is totally and completely taken by the One who has won your heart.  This is your story and the truth of who you are.
 
Has the amazement and wonder of the significance of being Christ’s Bride hit you full force yet?  Not yet?!  Well don’t worry, I haven’t given you enough information yet for the wonder of it all to come crashing down upon you.  And because you’ve probably heard the message of being Christ’s Bride multiple times, the concept isn’t new to you.  So in order to really understand the significance of the fact that you are Christ’s Bride, we must first look at her condition, status, and identity, and the character and story of her Groom.  In the meantime, go back and re-read the opening paragraph, putting yourself as the bride.  Can you relate to her?  Do you share in her joy, excitement, and wonder?  Are you living your everyday life as if her story is your story and the truth of who you are?