“And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Matthew 28: 20b

“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming soon.’ Amen. Come, Lord Jesus!” Revelation 22: 20

These two verses are both the first, last words and the final words of Christ in the New Testament. They were recorded, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, by the apostles Matthew and John for the church in a time when it faced great obstacles and persecution during its birth. Yet, this church still exists today. By the grace of God, these words have been preserved by the Holy Spirit for the saints of Christ’s church today of which I am a member. These verses, especially as of late, have been a great comfort to me.

Anyone in relation to me likely knows that I am currently engaged. Despite her imperfections and my many, many faults; God, out of His abundant grace, has blessed me with a woman whom I may serve Him with. This gift came rather unexpectedly and without any pre-planning on my part. With full confidence in Christ, however, my betrothed and I will be joined together as husband and wife in just a little over two months. Further, by the grace of the Holy Spirit’s revelation, we recognize that our union will be a reflection of the ultimate, eternal romance that is God and His people (see Exodus 19:4-6; Hosea 2:14-23; Ephesians 5:22-33; Revelation 19:6-9). Having realized this solely by God’s grace, I am slowly but deeply seeing new aspects of the gospel that I had not yet considered. I write this post as a reflection of those truths.

1. A Delayed Promise Can Be the Most Worthy Promise

Being in a distance relationship, especially with this intensity, is very difficult. While I am thankful that technology allows for my fiance and I to stay in close contact, it fails to provide the same intimacy we share in person. Some days, most days, I wish that we were already married and not separated by physical distance. On the all to few occasions when we do get to see each other in person, a constant dread of saying, “Good bye” again is always nagging in the back of my mind. I greatly look forward to this no longer being the case.

While our wedding date is determined and quickly approaching, it still seems so far away. While we are joyous about being engaged, we greatly long for the promise of that engagement to come to completion.

I am realizing this even more so in light of Christ’s relationship with His Church which I have been grafted into.

Being physically separated from Christ, even with the promise of salvation, can still be very challenging. While I am thankful I have access to God through the reading of Scripture and prayer, I desperately long to commune face to face with my beautiful Savior. Some days, most days, I wish I was already resurrected by Christ and thriving within His glorious presence. On the rare occasions when I am utterly overwhelmed by the beauty and love of Christ on earth, I resent this sinful, fleshly barrier. I yearn to be made whole.

Yet, I know He is with me always, and I know He is coming soon. Just as I know my wedding will bring this term of yearning to an end; I know the coming of Christ will bring all desire, pain, and longing to a finale. Therefore, because I have now yearned so deeply, I will be then satisfied more wholly. 

1. Distance Can Deepen Love

It was not very difficult for me to imagine loving someone in person, but I never had considered what loving someone through distance relationship would imply. It takes a conscious effort to set aside time for someone hours away when I have pressing matters right in front of me. Not only must I be fully committed to her; I must wholly trust that she will be faithful to me while we are apart. I have no doubt that she will be true to me, but she alone has that much trust in my life.

Being separated from her allows me to pursue her in ways that deepen my love for her. Being separated from her forces me to trust in her love completely.

Once again, I am beginning to realize this is also the case with Christ and the Bride I am a member of.

It was easy to accept Christ’s promise of salvation to me now, but I had not been considering the fullness to come at His glorious appearing in fulfillment of salvation. It takes a continual, conscious effort to follow Jesus when He is gloriously enthroned in heaven, and I am still within the world. Not only must I continually commit myself to Him; I am forced to trust that nothing will separate me from the love He has called me to as promised in Scripture (Romans 8:38-39). I have no doubt He is coming to resurrect me, and in Him alone do I reside my hope. Therefore, having loved and been loved from afar, the degree of love can only increase as the distance wanes. 

1. If My Longing for Her is Any Reflection of Christ’s Yearning for His Church Then His Love, Patience, and Forbearance Must Be Infinite

I want her. I desire her above any other. No one compares to her. I would sacrifice anything, including myself, for her. Any need she has I will meet if I have the means. If I do not, I will exhaust myself trying. She is most beautiful to me, and her alone do I long to behold. I do not simply want to be with her; I anxiously await to spend the rest of my life with her. While this engagement promises a union to allow for this, it still generates a restless deep, and vast yearning, which only our wedding will end.

If my heart has ached so within this relatively short season of engagement, I cannot fathom the love and longing Christ has had churning within Him for His Church since She became His betrothed on Calvary 2,000 some years ago. 

Come, Lord Jesus. Come.