Bro. Andrew Bassford, who was in charge of the marriage ceremony, ably reminded bride and groom of the solemn vows they were making before God and man. These were binding them together as one, and must continue to do so all the days of their lives. The interesting display of the telephone system organized by Bro. Andrew depicted the high level of communication that should exist between the bride and groom as they walked hand in hand toward the Kingdom.

Members of each ecclesia present took turns in taking photographs with the bride and groom. Then it was time for the reception, made cheery and humorous by Bro. Bobby Matthews. The toasts given were encouraging and entertaining.

In replying to all that was said and done on their behalf, the groom thanked everyone for coming and making the day so special. There was an outburst of laughter and clapping when the groom said that when he first saw his bride he immediately felt attracted to her. He prayed God would do something to show him that this charming young lady would be his wife. He had waited patiently on the Lord for this day. Just then she started to sing and it was like an electrical current passing through his body. That was sign enough! His wait was over.

"Marriage should be honoured by all" (Heb. 13:4). The Lord Jesus himself set the example. We are told it was when he went to a wedding that "he thus revealed his glory, and his disciples put their faith in him" (John 2:11). John the Baptist calls Jesus "the bridegroom" and adds, "the bride belongs to the bridegroom." John uses a wedding scene to describe his own relationship to Jesus, the bridegroom. He describes marriage as "full of joy" (3:29-30). In his letter to the Ephesian believers, the apostle Paul takes up John’s idea and beautifully elaborates upon it (Eph. 5:22-33). He calls marriage "a profound mystery," and every happily married brother and sister will surely agree with him!

In today’s secular, ungodly world, marriage is not "honored by all." Far from it. It is becoming more and more a marginal part of social life, not treated with any seriousness, and to be put off and delayed until "convenient." It is certainly not considered fundamental to life and procreation.

Peer pressure can affect us deeply, so that self-doubt replaces faith. Sadly, for reasons that are hard to define, many of us in the truth feel safer following the world’s standard. There is a great challenge before our young people: to set a totally different standard from our contemporaries. We should marry for godliness, not "romance." Being "in love" is not just that "electrical current" that our recent bridegroom spoke of. It is a lifelong commitment to true love, which is caring, and to a godly life lived together in body and spirit.

May God who instituted the first marriage in Eden bless you, dear Bro. Devon and Sis. Christine Walker, as you live your new life together in the Lord.

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials" (James 1:2). Pure joy? Brother James, are you serious?

But Peter writes in like manner: "Do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering...but rejoice" (I Pet. 4:12-13).

James suggests the pure joy is in anticipation that trial and affliction will produce in us a mature, "complete" Christian personality, characterized by rich qualities of "patience" and "perseverance" - like tempered steel or pre-stressed concrete.

Peter’s suggested reason for joy is a bit more subtle: rejoice that you may "participate in the sufferings of Christ." It is also the special joy of anticipation: "that you may be overjoyed when his (Jesus’) glory is revealed." Like the muscular agony that anticipates Olympic gold, Jesus compares the saint’s experience to the labor that, when fulfilled, brings the wondrous joy of parenthood.

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Trials can bring out the best and worst in us. God intends that they produce joy and patience, but we can greatly frustrate that divine purpose.

Contrast the effect of overwhelming disaster upon Job, and upon Job’s wife. "‘Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!’ Job replied, ‘You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?’ In all this, Job did not sin in what he said" (Job 2:9-10).

Contrast Naomi and Ruth in the face of heartbreaking family tragedy (Ruth 1:16-21). Naomi whined and griped: "Call me ‘Bitter’" she wailed. "I went away full, but the Lord has brought me back empty." Nonsense! What an insult to Ruth! She came home with love, loyalty and a converted daughter in law. What could bring more joy than that?

Contrast the misery and bitterness of Jonah with the confidence and poise of Isaiah and his prophetess wife. They both had tough trials (Jonah 4; Isaiah 8 and 20). "God said to Jonah, "‘Do you have a right to be angry?’ ‘I do,’ Jonah said, ‘I am angry enough to die.’" Jonah was more concerned for a withered plant and a tiny worm than he was for all the thousands of lost human souls in Nineveh. Jonah was bitter and totally self-centered about his prophetic mission, while Isaiah could see the purpose behind all the trials and problems.

Criticism, or a perceived slight, whether real or imagined, can totally obsess and embitter an otherwise godly person. A vendetta against a supposed enemy becomes a single-minded, almost paranoid, passion - like king Saul, Absalom, Caiaphas, Cain. Like me?

Sadly, we have seen this spirit of nursing hurts and grudges absorb all the energies of a brother as he attempts to get even with someone whom he despises.

A personal confession
One of us has a confession to make. The other day I came home from work late, and utterly exhausted. My partner was away visiting relatives. There was no food in the house, and the supermarket was closed. I was crying inside, feeling very sorry for myself. I felt miserable, lonely, a bitter spirit tugging at my soul. I was hugging my hurts close to my bosom. I realized that the rent was due, and I had had no time to get to the ATM.

There was a knock on the door. It was the landlord. "I thought you might need this," he said, and produced an absolutely delicious dinner fit for a gourmet restaurant. He mentioned nothing about the rent. He left with a cheering smile. I was ashamed of my bitter spirit, and bent in deep thanks to my wonderful Heavenly Father. Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.

The Lord Jesus, we read often, sat to teach, so I am in good company this morning.

Why are we here? Why have I been drawn from my sickbed to this table as by a magnet? Why have Kingstonian brothers and sisters set this table nearly six thousand times since this ecclesia was founded by our Caribbean pioneers in faith?

For one reason in particular. To celebrate the amazing forgiveness of God. Without that forgiveness, we would not be here.

We meet to share forgiveness
The purpose of this table is simple. It is a reminder that we have a wonderfully forgiving God. In order that we might truly appreciate how long and wide and vast and complete is God’s forgiveness, He sent His beloved Son, who told us to meet here and share that forgiveness.

In Jamaica, when Matthew 18:20 is quoted about our Lord being in the midst of even two or three of his saints, we sometimes hear the words added, "and that to bless," as if to pat us on the back. If you look at the context, that extra bit, if you want to add it, should be, "and that to forgive." For Matthew 18 is all about forgiveness.

Stories about two people
The Lord Jesus was always telling parables about two people, one of whom understood and appreciated God’s wonderful forgiveness and one who did not. The pharisee and the publican; the two sons; the two servants; Mary and Martha; the rich man and Lazarus; the two builders; and others.

The lesson is always the same: if we do not identify with the one who appreciates forgiveness, and then shows it, we have no hope. Without the grace of eagerly sought forgiveness, we perish.

Declared righteous
We find it so hard to accept Jesus’ teaching, do we not? - teaching that we have to beat our breasts in contrition at this table if we are to please God. The Pharisee goes away from this table the same unjustified sinner that he was when he came in. The publican does not simply please God. He goes home "justified," declared righteous by a forgiving God. Mary found the "good part." And in the parable, the beggar Lazarus went to Abraham’s bosom, "comforted."

"You are the man"
David was a wife-stealer and a murderer. Saul of Tarsus had the blood of saints on his hands. Why did God completely forgive them both?

I am sure it was because they made no lame excuses. Because they came to see God as a God of infinite mercy, forgiving iniquity, transgression and sin, and showing mercy to thousands. Both men thought that it was only other people who deserved to die – until they were face to face with the stark truth: "You are the man!" Then they realized how marvelous is God’s grace! It is at this table that we face the same stark truth. In a deep and significant way, all who appreciate God’s marvelous forgiveness are "crucified with Christ."

"Father, forgive them!"
Whenever we offer the Lord’s prayer, we make a pledge to God. We are saying, I am, I will be, just as forgiving to others as You are to me!

The greatest expression of forgiveness is that from the heart of the crucified Son of God: "Father, forgive them!"

For "them" read "us." No, read "me," and be thankful as we now eat and drink.

Walter Draper, Kingston

This is a new series of very short items about spiritually meaningful moments in the lives of our Caribbean saints. We will be delighted to receive your "moment," but to avoid the distraction of personal authorship, they will be published anonymously.

For me, a truly meaningful moment was when I visited the late Bro. Enos Campbell of Argyle Mountain ecclesia in Jamaica when he was critically ill in Cornwall Regional Hospital in Montego Bay.

The ward was deathly quiet when I approached. His bed was completely screened. A nurse lifted a corner of the screen and I slipped inside. Enos was propped uncomfortably against a pile of pillows, breathing in slow, shallow sighs. His eyes had lost their customary glint of humor. He was obviously in very great distress.

I ventured very tentatively, "I wonder if we could have a prayer?" An amazingly strong, sterling voice responded in his always precisely grammatical English: "Of course, my brother. For whom would you like me to pray?"

MEANINGFUL MOMENTS – 2

Visiting the Arima ecclesia in northern Trinidad was my greatest experience. For anyone it is a spiritual thrill. For me it was like climbing a spiritual mountain peak. At this meeting are brethren, sisters and friends of high understanding and practical wisdom, with fervent brotherly love, a godly spirit and a truly awesome knowledge and appreciation of the word of God. May God bless those faithful ones who labor in this part of God’s vineyard.

MEANINGFUL MOMENTS – 3

It was a dusty, overcrowded urbanizacion in Panama. The ranks of multi-storey tenements devour the handbills (tracts) delivered by a chattering group of young Christadelphian campaigners. One old man looked for a long while at the invitation I had given him.

"Cristadelfianos?", he queried. "Here in Panama?"

"Yes, you may not have heard of us before, but we do hold regular meetings about the Bible. And we have a new meeting hall not far from here!"

He studied me long and hard. "Fifty years ago, early in the twentieth century, my mother taught me insistently that the Cristadelfianos ‘believed the truth.’ All her life she was the only member in this big city. She gave me Sunday School lessons, and said, ‘Son, you must never forget what I have taught you. You are to keep a lookout, and if ever you meet one of them, hold on and you will find the hidden treasure.’ She really believed that, however long it would take, God would lead me to you eventually."

The inexpressible joy of this old man when he became a new man in Christ was a magic moment in my life.

MEANINGFUL MOMENTS – 4

The promise detailed
After this gracious and glorious promise had been the chief foundation of all the hopes of God’s people for two thousand years from Adam onward, God was pleased to point out the particular family from whence this Seed and mighty deliverer should spring. And He intimated what a universal blessing this Savior should be to all the nations of the earth. And in thy Seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed, said God to Abraham. This again plainly supposed that the cause of truth and righteousness, notwithstanding the dark state the world was in, should yet, in due time, universally prevail over the whole earth. This same promise was repeated again and again to Abraham, and afterwards to Isaac and Jacob.

From the days of Moses to the days of Solomon, God did, besides repeated promises of the same thing, by a great variety of wonderful works shadow forth the glorious day.

David and Solomon were types of Christ – David, who Messiah-like, subdued the enemies of Israel all around, Solomon who built the temple and filled Jerusalem with riches and glory.

He who has done all these things, can easily break to pieces the kingdoms of the earth, make truth victorious, and set up the new Jerusalem in all her spiritual glory and there set the Son of David upon the throne.

When shall these things be?
But when shall the Son of David reign? When shall the cause of truth and righteousness thus prevail? Perhaps the very time was designed to be shadowed forth in the Law of Moses, in the institution of their holy days. Said God, who always had this glorious season of rest in view, The seventh day shall be a Sabbath of Rest. So perhaps after six thousand years are spent in labor and sorrow, the seven thousandth shall be a season of spiritual rest and joy, a holy sabbath to the Lord. And as God the Creator was six days in forming a confused chaos into a beautiful world, and rested the seventh, so God the Redeemer may proclaim a general liberty to an enslaved world as in the year of jubilee.

Same promise in prophets and apostles
These things shadowed forth in types were also expressly declared by the ancient prophets from the days of David and forward to the end of that dispensation.

The same things are in the New Testament, and largely opened to view in the Revelation of John. So both Old and New Testaments join to raise in us, who live in these ages, the highest assurance that it is God’s design to give His Son the uttermost parts of the earth for his possession. For all kings shall bow down before him, and all nations shall serve him. And the mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established in the top of the mountains, and all nations shall flow into it. They shall learn war no more. For the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the Lord as the waters cover the sea. And the kingdom and dominion, and the greatness of the kingdom under the whole heaven shall be given to the people of the saints of the Most High God. And the Jews shall be called in, and the fullness of the Gentiles. And Christ shall reign on earth a thousand years.

God’s promises are sure to be fulfilled
God has been faithful to His promises from the beginning of the world. The promised Seed has been born, and the serpent has bruised his heel; and methinks now God’s faithfulness should lead us to believe that the Seed shall bruise his head.

The Son of God has been offered as a sacrifice of atonement to open the way for the honorable exercise of God’s grace. As all power and authority in heaven and earth is already given into his hands, will he not bring every nation, kindred and tongue to bow the knee to God? When things have been ripening these six thousand years, and are now so nearly every way prepared for the total destruction of the kingdoms of men, can we imagine that God will let the opportunity slip? Rather, ought we not firmly to believe that when everything is quite ripe, then God will arise, make bare His arm, and fill the whole world with His glory, as all the holy prophets have spoken?