Christ and Marriage

I am a most honored man. I am blessed with much for which there is not a smidgen of fitness within me. My speech is that of my marriage bond to my beloved Barbara. What a treasure for a man undeserving to be able to call his own. My memory rehearses the events of August 20, 1977. The few months of courtship, the gathering of family and friends, the readying of the church, and I find myself standing at the altar with fixed eyes as my bride to be approaches me. Her father takes her hand and puts it in mine as if his greatest possession was being tenured by someone he could not fully trust as yet. Barbara’s grandfather says the words of the ceremony, and my darling and I agree to be married. We seal our commitment to each other with a kiss. Love and law have met together and now we are one. What a day of beginnings. Over 30 years ago, and we still belong and cling to each other. I remember the joy of calling her by her new name, “Good morning, Mrs. Barbara Isbill!” I still get delight in calling her by name.

Isaiah 43:1 … O Israel; Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. (MKJV Bible)

My relationship to Christ is somewhat like this model, only much more. When I called her mine, all that I had was hers. All that she had was mine. She was my wife! We were no longer two but one. This is the great wonder of the marriage bond, and it is a type our relationship with Jesus Christ.

We sealed it with the ceremonial kiss, but have kept it through commitment to each other. So close was/is our intimacy we were not like two halves joined into a whole, but the miracle of marriage is the two wholes that merge into a greater whole. We have never contemplated separation, or abused each other, for we are each others. I am not saying we were perfect, only dedicated to each other.

Enough of me; the Bible reminds me of a wedding bond. In my relationship with Christ, I am completely without honor or fitness. There is no way I could merit His favor. Yet, he loved and chose me. He has redeemed me and called me by name. I bear His name and am now a part of His family. All that I have is His; all that He is, is mine. How do I claim such riches? My only birthright is that He called me! He saw me in my sin and called me by name, His name. The call of Love lifted me – all I did was respond. I found a bond that is even greater than my marriage bond with my wife. No one can rob me of this right because the right of His calling is completely in His sovereignty. Oh, how I love Jesus.

When I stumble, He is always there to say, “Fear not … I have called you by name; you are mine.” My Beloved is mine, and I am His. This is not theory; nor some church’s private doctrine. It is simply a fact. I feel one with Christ, and He with me, all because He tells me so.

It is not just that He tells me I am His, but I return these words to Him as well. Every day I boldly and tenderly tell my wife I love her, and she responds in kind. Over thirty years of marriage, and we refresh knowledge daily that we have chosen and been chosen by each other, and that we belong one to the other. Every day I rise to my Savior and God, and Jesus brings heaven to my soul. The more I praise Him, the more He praises me. We sit together in heavenly places.

I am immortal even before I die because I belong to Him! For me the kingdom of heaven is already at hand because I am His! When He called me, I came from death to life. I am chosen; I am His.

Christian friend, when you doubt and wonder how that you can know you are saved, read this text again:

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine.”

Has He called you from death unto life? Did you receive and respond to the call? Do you love and believe Him? He says do not be afraid. “I am the ONE who has called you!” “You belong to me!”