This past Saturday (August 17th), we had the privilege of attending the first wedding held at Elohim Bible Camp, which Three Lakes Community Bible Church (that I pastored) started in 1978. As my wife and I sat there waiting for the ceremony to begin, we couldn’t help but think back to the spring of 1978 when we were piling and burning brush and getting the site ready to start a Bible camp. A couple in our church, Al (Ellis) and Ida Stewart, had a vision for ministry to young people and donated property to start the camp. The area was quite heavily wooded and required lots of clearing and “brushing out” to make places for a kitchen and cafeteria and for big army tents to house the campers. We built pallets from 2×2’s for the campers to sleep on in sleeping bags and brought water to the site from a nearby creek. It was very rustic (including outhouse bathrooms), but by the first week of July, we held our first camp.

     Since that time huge improvements have been made to the facility and several thousand young folks have attended camp, with many making decisions to follow Christ.  A Bible Training Center for Pastors was started that has helped a number of folks become equipped for full-time Christian ministry. The camp has been used for retreats, family reunions and family camps, but this was the first time it was the venue for a wedding.  The groom, Landy Marcott, is the eldest son of the camp directors, Landon and Nicole, and the bride, Grace Rodriguez, the daughter of the pastor of an hispanic church in Missoula, Montana. There were more than 300 people there and what a perfect setting and beautiful, Christ-centered ceremony it was. Every portion of the event was designed to bring glory to God.  What a fitting way to begin together a life of service to God.  

     As was pointed out in his welcome, Pastor Dave Donnerberg of Faith Bible Church in Libby, and a frequent speaker at Elohim, related the history of mankind on earth which began with a marriage performed by God in the Garden of Eden as God provided a bride for Adam and the two became one flesh (Gen. 2:18-24).  Then in his charge to the couple, Pastor Bernardo Rodriguez spoke about the first miracle of Jesus being perfomed at a wedding in Cana (Jn. 2), and how believers will all participate in the “marriage of the Lamb” and the “marriage supper of the Lamb” (Rev. 19:7,9) in heaven. 

     In his letter to the believers at Ephesus, the Apostle Paul tells us in Eph. 5:22-32 that the relationship between believing husbands and wives illustrates that which exists between Christ (the bridegroom) and the church (His bride). Paul refers to it as a “mystery” (v. 32), for it was something hidden in the Old Testament that is now being revealed–how God, through Christ, would enter into a relationship with those who put their trust in Christ for eternal life. Jesus prayed in the Garden before going to the Cross” “I do not ask on behalf of these alone (the Disciple) but for those also who believe in Me through their word (that’s us!), that they may all be one even as You Father, are in Me, and I am in You, that they also may be in Us…I in them, and You in Me…” (Jn. 17:20-23).  As believers in Jesus Christ, we are part of the “bride of Christ,” the church and are thus identified with Him in His death, burial and resurrection (Ro. 6).  We symbolize that union with Christ by believer baptism as we go into, under and out of the water.  We look forward to the “marriage of the Lamb” which is coming soon, when in heaven, we are presented by the Father to His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ and then celebrate at the “marriage supper of the Lamb.”  

     After the marriage ceremony on Saturday,  we gathered in the activity building, seated around tables, to a scrumptious meal while we fellowshipped with one another. It was a loud, joyous time. Just imagine what that scene will be like in heaven as people from every tribe and nation sit down and celebrate at the “marriage supper of the Lamb”!  

      Each Christ-centered marriage between a believing couple is a beautiful picture of our relationship with Jesus Christ and all we have to look forward to when we are taken to the Father’s house to be presented to His Son and then to celebrate together. If that doesn’t get you excited, nothing can!!  In our wedding ceremonies, the bride and groom normally say vows about being faithful to their spouse “for as long as they shall live.”  Well, in heaven there will be no death, so that will be forever. We will enjoy our relationship with the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, for eternity to come. Hallelujah!

Forever His,

Pastor Dave