MORE BEAUTIFUL THAN I EVER IMAGINED
When William Montague Dyke was ten years old, an accident claimed his eyesight. Despite his disability, Dyke graduated with high honors from Cambridge University. While attending school, he fell in love with a British admiral’s daughter, and they planned to marry.
Shortly before the wedding, a doctor performed radical surgery on William’s eyes. If successful, he would see again. If not, he would be blind for life. The young man insisted on leaving the bandages intact until his wedding. In that way, the first person he saw would be his bride.
Their wedding day arrived. The church was filled with guests. The groom, still in bandages, stood next to his father and the surgeon. The bride proceeded down the aisle, and stood next to her fiancé. Removing scissors from his pocket, the surgeon slowly cut the bandages from William’s eyes. Everyone was breathless as tension filled the room, wondering if he could see his bride’s face. Looking into her eyes, William spoke, his words echoing through the cathedral. “You are more beautiful than I ever imagined!” (Source: Does God Exist, May/ June, 2003)
In this life, our eyes are covered with “bandages” as well. Limited by our flesh, we are unable to see into the spiritual realm. One day, our bandages will be cut away, and we will gaze into the eyes of our beloved Jesus in all his glory. And we will exclaim “You are more beautiful than I ever imagined!”
But here’s the flip side. When a bride walks down the aisle, all eyes are glued on her. But when performing a wedding, I don’t watch the bride. I focus on the groom. Invariably, a smile beams across his face. Then, his lip begins to quiver, and a tear trickles down his cheek. It’s a moment of joy I wouldn’t miss.
Consider this. When we see Jesus, not only will we be overwhelmed by his loveliness; but he will be enraptured by our beauty as well. Ephesians 5:27 states, that as Christ’s bride, we are “radiant… without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish.” That’s how Jesus sees us—as radiant and pure. Not because of our innate goodness. Jesus makes us beautiful and radiant by his righteousness (Philippians 3:9). As impossible as it seems, as Jesus looks into our eyes, he also proclaims, “You are more beautiful than I ever imagined!”
Principle: As Christ’s bride, we are radiant and beautiful in his eyes.
Ponder:
How does knowing you are radiant and beautiful to Jesus motivate you to live a more holy life?
What spiritual practices will help make this truth become more real to you?
Pursue: For a deeper dive, study Ephesians 5:25-33.
Prayer: “Dear Jesus, thank you for your love for me. I cannot understand the depth of your love, but I accept it by faith. Help me begin to grasp how valued I am to you.”