June Is Marriage Month

Adrian, now in heaven, was my friend.  Like me, he loved old cars.  He had a beautiful, restored 1929 Ford Model A. It was black and yellow with a ragtop, and a rumble seat.  It was Adrian's baby. 

His granddaughter Angie was getting married.  She said, “Papa, why don’t you take us to our car from the church in the rumble seat of the Model A?” She and her new husband were driving to their honeymoon destination, and they intended to hide their car from the family pranksters. 

Adrian said, “Well, I will be glad to do that.” He commissioned friends who attended the wedding to decorate the Model A.  They put a sign on the back of the open rumble seat that said “Just Married.” They tied tin can strings to the back bumper.   Helium filled balloons also festooned the car.

So, after the reception, Adrian drove them to their car. The ragtop was down.  It was a beautiful afternoon. Mission accomplished.  Then he had to take his car home.  Adrian has another granddaughter, a beautiful girl in her twenties.  Adrian said, “Renee, would you like to ride with me when I take the car back home?”  She loved to ride with her grandpa, so she jumped in the front seat with him.

It didn’t dawn on Adrian what was happening. But there they were, going down the Interstate at forty miles-per-hour.  The sign on the back of the car said “Just Married.” And please don't forget all those tin cans and the balloons that were tied on there, too!

Eighteen-wheelers were passing them, blowing their air horns.  The truckers would shout “Whooo, Whooo, Whooo!” out their windows, and laugh and wave. They would point at Adrian and that beautiful young girl and slap their hands on their steering wheels.

Adrian said, “I knew what they were thinking. What is that old geezer doing with that young, beautiful girl? How on earth did he ever talk her into marrying him?  We were the original Beauty and the Beast!” 

It is equally amazing that a Beautiful Jesus desires the likes of us to be His bride.  The word “incongruous” might describe it best.  Some things just don't seem to go together.  But in the eyes of the Bridegroom, the Bride is always beautiful.  So it is with those who have been wed to Christ.  I rejoice at the incongruity of the gospel. 

Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his bride hath made herself ready. (Revelation 19:7)