Before the altar...part 21

Let’s consider marriage, and going before the altar. Never before in the history of man has marriage been taken as lightly as today, as if it was something that could be taken off and put back on. But in marriage, as when we are baptized, we come before the altar and we see the sacrifice that was made for us. On a grander scale this represents the bride of Christ, that is the body of Christ, and Christ as groom coming before the altar of God purely. What does the Lord’s Supper mean? It is a remembrance of the sacrifice Jesus made for us. What is marriage? It is a remembrance of who we are in Christ. It is not something that can just be taken off and put on. But how importance was, is and ever shall be was marriage to God? In Deuteronomy 21:1-23 and Deuteronomy 22:13-21 marriage was serious, and it was a union that must not be severed because marriages were a vow before God. Otherwise sin is allowed into such a relationship and the two must be accountable for themselves. Of course, earthly marriage symbolically extends to the bride of Christ. Our union to Christ must be taken seriously or it turns to a haphazard relationship and can lead to allowing in to creep into our lives, for which we will be held accountable. The altar of marriage is serious, and must not be dismissed easily. On the other hand, that doesn’t mean that we cannot enjoy marriage. Marriage was meant for us to enjoy and if that is the case then we can have joy in the relationship we have with Christ, much as husband and wife share joy in their relationship. The accountability we have is much like that of offering sacrifices that were expected to be pure and with a humble and contrite heart. When a bride is presented in marriage to a groom or the bride of Christ is presented to Christ, there is an accountability to be committed and persistent in the relationship. 

God comes to bring peace to me, as part of Jesus’ bride, and then to all Christians, as the totality of Jesus’ bride. In being Christ’s bride, I must come in peace before God, not to express my opinion, not to express my talent and to bring that before God, but as an attitude of submission to God. God makes all things one. All people shall go to the mountain. In my worship I must understand that what I want is not important and what new people, who God brings in to become part of His bride, want is not important. What we all want is not the purpose of worshipping God. It is to maintain the sacredness and to realize that He came down (Isaiah 9:1-6) in the form of Jesus Christ so that we would have a blueprint, physically, spiritually, and emotionally. For He was tempted in all things and did not sin. And I am not to blemish this sacrifice that was made for me so that I can be saved, much as the sacrifice of the Jews at the altar were not to be blemished (Deuteronomy 17:1-14). I cannot blemish His sacrifice with doing things according to my will, with coming before Him and showing off my talents. I cannot blemish Him by saying that I am doing one thing then actually do the opposite. I cannot use His sanctuary to demonstrate to others just how holy I am, when in fact I am not. If my relationships are not pure, if what I do is not walking as Christ would have me to walk and being holy as He is holy, I bring blemish to the altar, and judgment is upon me. That means I need to take this sacrifice seriously. When God says something and I don’t do it, I am sinning, no matter if I think I can do it a better way, or I don’t think I’m good enough to do it His way.