I just read an article, Would You Pay $50,000 to Find Your Future Bride? Turns out a man was willing to pay that amount to an agency which promised to get him the perfect wife. Matching up his wants, looks, compatibilities and more, the agency was able to deliver and the client is now a very happily married man!
What would you pay? Peanuts? Might end up with…Would you pay bananas? You’d end up with…
God sought a bride, which makes up His body. He wasn’t going to pay peanuts or bananas; or even play Rock, Paper, Scissors. Anything He’d pay, Satan would try to match it. Whether coins, gold, rubies, diamonds, etc. Satan would have had access to them because: (The world is his: 2 Corinthians 4:4; John 12:3; 1John 5:19).
God had to pay a price beyond Satan’s reach. When the bride was “found,” He agreed “She” was to die for and was willing to pay the price! Was She beautiful, meeting all His wants and looks? Was She compatible with Him? The answer to all the questions, is NO! She was ugly, mired in sin! She was a liar, an alcoholic, and a cheat. She was biased, a murderer, greedy, a thief, and more (1 Corinthians 6:9-11)! And God thought, “She’s perfect!”
Through His Son, Jesus, the purchase was made! So, how much did He pay? Was it $50,000; $100,000, Millions? Billions? More???? Money couldn’t do it.
Although God initiated animal sacrifices and blood offerings with Israel to cover for man’s sins and transgressions, those sacrifices could never take away our sins. Besides, they couldn’t cleanse our conscience. God, Himself, through Jesus, laid His life for you, His bride! Meaning, not just any type of blood, but the perfect blood of Christ without spot or contamination was shed for you
The price Jesus paid for His Bride is unparalleled! It is beyond what anyone could ever do! Satan could never match that!! He has no blood! He’s not perfect! He’s a FALLEN angel. He’s not willing to do anything for anyone!! He’s a cheat and a cheapskate! Jesus alone can completely transform our lives! You would have to be God Himself to do it…And He did!! He laid His life and covered all the costs! No amount of money could ever outdo that!
And, He has cleansed us and made us beautiful! We’re no longer what we were! See your reflection in God’s mirror of transformed lives! Bask in the image of His glory! For what you see is hidden behind His image! When you look at yourself you’re seeing Him!
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Revelation 19:7,8).
“So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation” (Hebrews 9:28).
“For you were bought with a price: glorify God therefore in your body” (1 Corinthians 6:20).
What an UNBEATABLE love story!
Sam
Recommended Hymn: Jesus Paid It All