Lamenting
Married to Christ
Eileen Renders
What might someone attempt to convey when saying “I am married to Christ?” Certainly, it does not define the conventional marriage as we know it. It is not about romantic love, where two individuals marry and raise children. It does indicate, however, that one (man or woman) has surrendered their soul, heart, body, mind, and spirit, including their will, to God.
The ecstasy of this union becomes a continual refinement and acceptance by God, our creator, and Bridegroom. In this marriage, one begins to feel a deeper sense of who God is, and how He works in us to make us more like Him. He wants us to grow in love, wisdom, and power over Satan. So when we leave this world, we will ascend directly to His home in heaven for eternity.
Our trust and faithfulness in Christ as our head, our leader, and creator is a testimony of surrender and acceptance of His divine guidance and desire to love, teach, and guide us through life, and into eternity in Him and with Him.
We all have so much to learn and to share. Some of us become like disappointed children when we pray to God with earnestness asking for something very important to us. When our request seems to fall on deaf ears, we are disappointed and discouraged. Only Jesus knows what is best for us, and when the timing is right. This ought to remind us as adults that trust requires us to allow God to determine what we need, and when we need it.
To my surprise, I have in my life often heard people say; “I wish you health, happiness, and wealth in the New Year.” With no disrespect to those well-meaning individuals, I have thought to myself; “Wow, God is not Santa Claus.” This is not heaven, it is earth. We all will have a Cross to bear, and in accepting God’s will, we can carry our cross and accept that we are not being singled out, this is not the Garden of Eden.
But let us not dwell on the sorrows of life, let us look forward and upward to the final reward God has planned for those who surrender to His will, accept their Cross, and offer up our pain to be joined with the greatest pain of all, God’s sacrifice and crucifixion offered up to the Father to save us from sin and eternal damnation.