Bridal Bouquet

It was a beautiful Sunday Morning in April and as my wife was preparing for church, a group of young squirrels caught my attention. They were playing and scampering around the big Oak tree just across the parking lot from our home. I smiled inwardly as I watched them enjoy a game of hide and seek. Slowly, the very scene that had drawn my thoughts toward the tree began to change… right before my eyes was the most beautiful of flower gardens.

Overwhelmed by its splendor, the variety of species in the garden were amazing to me. There was a myriad of brilliant colors, shapes and sizes; no two flowers being the same yet so very exquisite. Wonderful beauty I have never seen before… or since.

Then, as if answering the questions in my mind, I heard a voice speak to my heart, a familiar voice, the sound of a Shepherd (my sheep know my voice and another they will not follow). It spoke saying, “this flower garden is My church and I shall soon come to pick them.” Suddenly a hand came down of the heavens and picked the flowers… raising what appeared to be a beautiful bouquet of flowers upward toward the sky. The voice again spoke saying “This bouquet is My church and they shall shine forever as the Son. What a sight to behold, the body of Christ as ONE, a dazzling Bridal Bouquet for the SON.

My attention was again turned toward the place where the flower garden had once been, but no beauty remained there… only weeds waving in the breeze seeming to call out after the holder of the bouquet, “Lord, Lord??” once again, that all familiar voice spoke in stern, chilling words… “I never knew you” … “Depart from Me ye workers of iniquity”.

After seeing such majesty and then this despairing scene, I asked… Lord, who are these? He said, in an unwavering voice, laced with sadness, “this is the apostasy in the church… and I never knew them.”

As quickly as the dream came it was gone. Once again, I was watching young squirrels play around the big tree across the parking lot from our home. In my mind was a very real sense that I had seen something so great and fearful and was left to ponder its meaning.

I have often thought of that morning and the meaning of what I had been shown. Within that flower garden are weeds, He knows who these are and on that great day of the Lord, will leave them behind. We, the church, are many parts, we have many ministries, there are multiple giftings and yet, the church, His church is ONE body… all equal, yet all different in appearance and works, seen by God as a beautiful bouquet of flowers prepared for His Son on that Great Wedding of the Lamb. 

Have you sent your RSVP to heaven for this glorious occasion? Will you be a part of the exquisite Bridal Bouquet or will you, as the weeds cry “Lord, Lord”, not having known Him or Him you? The invitation has been sent… I urge you to reply today.