Your smile is like the sunrise. Every time you smile, you pour your warmth all over me. Every time you laugh, you set my blood on fire. Every time I see you, I regret every day I have spent without you, and that’s a lot of days for a man to regret.”
–Jesse Storm (Final Ride for Justice)
“For I am jealous for you with the jealousy of God himself. I promised you as a pure bride to one husband—Christ.”
–2 Corinthians 11:2 (NLT)
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“I never went much on this lovin’;
I allus was bashful from birth,
But now to the front I am shovin’,
An playin’ the game all it’s worth.”
–E.A. Brinistool
It’s that time of year again; it seems to roll around about this time every year. The one day when people swoon, and they spoon by the light of the moon. Ahhhh, ain’t it sweet. Do you remember those giddy feelings? I surely can. Once I found the right gal, I went hard into the fight. I shoved my way past other guys, pushed them out of the way, for I was gonna marry this gal I found. It didn’t take me long to figure that out, by the third date, now it was up to me to convince her. The persuading took me half a year. I think she knew it before she acquiesced that night in August.
Maybe it was that downpour that we drove through around midnight on the Pennsylvania Turnpike, or maybe she just came to her senses, either way, I pulled over off the road and with the traffic and 18-wheelers flying by I asked that fateful question: “Will you marry me.” A year later the knot was tied. My, my that was back in 1970, whooeee.
I did have to shove some out of the way. There was one guy in particular who was infatuated with Annie, so much so it seemed that he was stalking her. One day I had enough, I pulled him aside in the hallway and told him to scram. I didn’t want to see him pestering or following her again. It worked.
I am so thankful for her, not just on Valentines Day, but everyday. I am a much better person because of her. My rough edges she has been able to wear down, and I know how to behave as a gentleman in polite society. She has always stood the test whenever we had to move or change careers. It’s a comfort to know that she was standing with me through it all.
That makes me think of those eyes of fire (Revelation 1:14). We know He is a jealous God (Exodus 20:5). He is looking down from heaven, watching the world try and taint His bride. Those eyes of fire are burning for two reasons: first, the desire He has for His bride. He has gone to prepare a place for her, and is ready to come to carry her to His home. I’m sure He is more anxious than I was. Second, His eyes flash fire for He sees the world trying to sully her. It is trying to dirty her, shame her, trick her, deceive her into not being faithful and true. Jesus will not allow this to happen anymore than I would allow someone to stalk my girl. His countenance is shining brightly and He is brandishing His sword.
Just as it took a half year to persuade Annie to marry me, and then almost another year before the marriage took place so it has been with the Lord. He has been gone preparing a place, now He is ready to come back and claim His bride. The table is spread in heaven, the food is being prepared, all that is left is to sound the trumpet and take her to His house.