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“Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His Bride has made herself ready.”  Revelation 19:7

My niece got married this weekend—my brother’s daughter, Victoria. The venue was stunning. It was a 19^th-century home-turned-winery in Buck’s County, PA, with a lovely upper room where the ceremony took place that looked over acres of vineyards. And, since it’s the Christmas season, when dusk settled, bright lights twinkled throughout the grounds as if the stars descended to nestle themselves within the trees and across the rows of sleeping vines. Another noteworthy aspect of this wedding was that all the guests were asked to wear black, which set the scene to further elevate the bride’s beauty and magnificence. (I guess this is a TicTok/Insta thing these days. And although I was initially concerned the vibe would be a bit too somber, it worked perfectly amid the venue’s white furnishing and all-white floral arrangements.)

After the couple’s “I do’s” and their jubilant exit down the center aisle as husband and wife, we all headed over to the adjacent equally historical building for the reception. And after the sweet first dances and tear-provoking speeches, it was time for the meal. (A meal, I will say, which was ridiculously delicious, as my loving, generous brother spared no expense for his eldest daughter’s Big Day.) Of course, after the food came the next-level celebrating—feet moving, hands raised, and lyrics shouted as the dance floor flooded in response to DJ-driven beats underscoring favorite songs from the past several decades.

The event was so joyful, filled with countless declarations of “I love you” and “I miss you” and “Wish we saw each other more”…I don’t get to see my family and family friends very often at all, so all of these sentiments definitely were extended from and to me.

So, as I sit on the plane back to Florida this morning thinking about last night’s party, I began pondering another wedding celebration I’m invited to—although I’m not exactly sure of the exact date. The venue, however, is sure to be stunning beyond comprehension. And I imagine being able to look around at heavenly lights as far as the eye can see, creating an enchanted ambiance for the celebration. But, contrary to my niece’s elegant all-black event, everyone present at this marriage will be dressed in white. The food? No offense to my brother’s catering choices, but this cuisine will be more scrumptious than our tastebuds have ever experienced. Dancing? Yup! Singing? For sure. But instead of pop tunes with a backbeat, we’ll be singing songs written at the dawn of creation—and others we compose on the fly! I anticipate hands in the air…not waving like we just don’t care, but rather raised in praise to the Bridegroom and His Father. Oh, and unlike the father of the bride (my bro) footing the bill for the festivities, this wedding supper was paid for in full by the Groom Himself.

For every follower of Jesus Christ—the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world—we are His bride. You and I are the redeemed, invitation in hand to the Wedding Supper of the Lamb. It will be the family reunion of reunions. Lots of “I love you” declarations. But not a single, “Miss you” or “Wish I saw you more”…because this celebration is the kickoff of an eternity with everyone at the wedding. And, oh my, what a party it will be.

Can you picture it? Will you be there? See, if you don’t have your invitation, you’ll miss out. But, friend, all you have to do is ask Jesus if you can join Him—surrender your life to Him, and He’ll welcome you into the party.

“Lord, I cannot wait to enter the Wedding Supper of the Lamb and start my heavenly life with You and the rest of Your Bride!”

For His Glory,

Julianne Winkler Smith
TRBC Women’s Life