Seeing the Kingdom

by Joey Davis

I'll never forget seeing my wife on our wedding day. She gripped the arm of her father tightly as she made her way down the center isle to be given to me as God's second greatest gift. It was a special moment where I was blessed to view her with my heart and not just see her with my eyes.

I've seen many brides since that day. All of them were beautiful but lacking when compared to my memory of Melissa. You see, only a groom knows the overwhelming joy of seeing his bride from the heart. Only one who loves his bride understands that all others pale in comparison to her.

Now, if you are waiting for one of my sloppy stories that is both graphic and sentimental, you're out of luck. This view of Melissa is locked in my heart, never to be shared, only silently recalled, remembered and enjoyed. I refuse to verbalize this memory because you can't possibly understand what my heart saw that day. Our perspectives are too different. . .

... Jesus said to Nicodemus, "unless one is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." (italics mine)

In other words, "Nicodemus, you can't see my Bride, the Kingdom, as I see Her. You do not possess the heart to do so. Let me renew your life by giving you a heart that's fit to see the beauty of my Bride, so that you'll love her too."

His Bride is too beautiful to be seen by mortals. For mortal eyes see His Bride as just another woman who is out to rob them of their strength, time, and money. The world sees her as just another woman who seeks to trap them in a relationship that is one-sided and unrealistic. And the reason they can't see her beauty is because they can't see her with their hearts.

His Kingdom, the church, has to be seen from the perspective of a heart that has been justified by the Father, cleansed by the Son, and occupied by the Spirit.

Rebirth must take place before we can SEE the kingdom as does our Lord. . .. . . I find it interesting that we view the church at times as programs, committees, and policies. Sometimes we see her as worship services and bible classes. When we see her this way, we haven't seen the Kingdom.

We can only see the Bride in all her glory when we can see her through a heart like that of Jesus. That heart is ours when we are born of water and the Spirit.