As I reflect on the role of the elect in God’s plan of redemption for the world I am astounded by how it is ever more glorious and stunningly reflected in the types and shadows woven into the Story of God found in the Scriptures. Lately I have been meditating on the purpose of the Divine marriage between Christ and His Church. I have always been taught that we have been saved as the elect to be The Bride of Christ to live with Him forever in heaven. How beautiful a hope and how it has thrilled my soul countless times. But something even more amazing and stunning has entered my vision.
I will try and illustrate through means of a scene from one of my favorite movies, Lady Jane. The story of the nine-day queen of England, Lady Jane was forced to marry the Duke of Northumberland’s son, Guildford, to quickly draft a political marital alliance before Mary Queen of Scots returned and could have her say or way in the matter. They were hastily married and crowned but immediately formed an intimate and spiritual bond together. The naive couple demonstrated maturity beyond their years when an encounter with the peasants made them starkly aware of the corruption that had built innumerable evils into their newly inherited kingdom. They sensed their divine appointment to restore justice to the oppressed poor and weak. One night the couple made vows to change the injustices they had recently witnessed and with each one they made a declaration. Following each promise to one another and to their newly inherited subjects they declared “it’s done,” as they smashed a rare and costly goblet full of wine on the castle pavement.
But what if this new king and queen had simply taken their union to be all about themselves and basked in their good fortune to be “royalty” together? End of selfish story; a story never to be made into the kind of movie that inspires and makes our hearts soar. Instead, we witness a glorious epic account of a royal union being about the redemption of others… the restoration of their “kingdomship.” The loving vows to one another evolved naturally into vows to redeem and to restore others, drawing ever inclusive circles. True love has a way of growing, spreading, expanding…into a family. It is its nature. Their good fortune and authority was taken as an opportunity to reach out to those who were powerless and bankrupt…
How could God’s union with us be anything less than this breathtaking story of loving “pro-recreation” within an earthly kingdom? How much more the Story of God as He takes a Bride to declare alongside “it is finished” as they purpose and plan, Christ and Bride together, the restoration of a universe still broken and shattered by the fall.
“If we endure, we will also reign with him.” 2 Tim 2:12
“The Spirit and the Bride say, ‘Come!'” Rev 22:17
The following is a segment of the movie, Lady Jane. The scene mentioned above is located at the 5 minute mark:
Post by “Kate MacDonald” (pseudonym)
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