If You Still Care for Me... Wait Two Years Alex
by David River
Love Prescription (Rx) #23
September 27, 2006
~ One of the greatest evidences that one's love is true is their willingness to wait patiently for the one they love.
I am a hopeless romantic. Bet you haven't figured that out by now. * snickers * I make no apologies for that. As I mentioned in my blog entitled, "The Measure of a Man," I happen to think that a "real man" is a worshipper, a warrior, a king and a die hard romantic. (If you haven't read that blog it is the last one posted.)
Because I am a hopeless romantic I also love "chick flix." But hey, that doesn't make me any less of a man. I also love hero/warrior movies like Gladiator, Lord of the Rings, Braveheart, and A Knight's Tale. You know the usual guy stuff.
Because I also love "chick flix" to me one of the many priceless moments in a marriage relationship would look like this:
A cool winter's night. Flames blazing in the fireplace at home. Candles burning. Fresh cut fruit. Non-alcoholic wine. An incredibly romantic movie. And the woman I love cuddled in my arms on the couch. * sigh *
And I know just the movie I'd watch too. It's called, "The Lake House" with Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. I missed it in the theaters and happened to discover it on a preview to another movie about a month ago. The moment I saw the preview, my heart leapt and I knew it was a "must see" movie. I found out that it was being released on DVD on September 26th, so I marked my calendar so I could buy it. * yes, I have been accused of being a woman in a man's body * smiles *
On Tuesday the 26th I had some down time during the much anticipated day * smiles again * so I went to 'where else but Walmart' and bought the movie. By the time the day was over I had already watched it twice. * okay, okay, so I am really an EXTREME romantic *
Now that I have seen the movie, I know why my heart leapt when I saw the preview. It's about a woman named Dr. Kate Forster who meets Alex Wyler. They met because she was the previous tenant to a house which he had just purchased upon a lake. She leaves behind a note asking him to forward all her mail, but the strange thing is that the note is dated two years ahead of his time. Curious he begins to exchange letters through mail and they discover that she lives in 2006 while he lives in 2004.
Without ruining the story for those of you who have not seen it, they pass letters back and forth through this "magical mailbox" and fall in love with each other all the while attempting to find a way to bridge the time gap between them.
What I like so much about this movie is this: In order for Alex to be with Kate he must skillfully navigate the next two years of his life in order to catch up with her in time. And thus I am reminded that some of the most romantic stories of all time involved a "waiting period."
Think with me about Jacob and Rachel for a moment. If you know the story, Jacob fell in love with her upon first sight and was so stricken with her that he offered to labor for seven full years in order to marry her. (Gen. 29:18) * can you believe that? * Her father Laban agreed, and Jacob worked for over two thousand five hundred days to win her hand in marriage. * talk about waiting for love?! * Think about how cherished Rachel must have felt because he was willing to work and wait that long for her. * whew *
Next I am reminded of the most romantic story ever told. Back in the old days of Jewish heritage they use to have marriage customs which were much different than ours today. When a man wanted to get married, the groom's father usually chose the bride for his son. Then the son or a servant would go to the father of the bride and pay a dowry price to secure her hand in engagement.
The bride and groom would exchange some engagement vows and the son would leave the bride behind, return home and build a bridal chamber for them to honeymoon in once the marriage was consummated. It usually took the groom a year or two to build the new chamber for his betrothed bride. Many times during this season of preparation the bride and groom didn't even see each other. * now that's the way to reduce sexual temptation before marriage * The groom built the chamber in anticipation of his bride to be, and the bride prepared herself in anticipation of the glorious day. Another odd thing is that the groom never chose the day or hour that he would "rescue" his bride; it was up to the groom's father. When the time was just right, the father of the groom told him when he could go "capture" his bride. It kept everything so mysterious and suspenseful.
The groom would then come in the middle of the night with a wedding party and trumpeters leading the procession. When they were far off the trumpeters would bugle in order to wake the bride and bridesmaids to tell them to prepare for the groom had arrived and was about to sweep her away. After he arrived at her house, he "captured" her and immediately took her away to the wedding ceremony. They would consummate the marriage and then enter the chamber all the while their friends would celebrate for up to seven days straight while they remained in the marriage chamber. The Jewish wedding customs were extremely romantic in every way.
Now think with me for a moment. When Jesus came to earth two thousand years ago, he came looking for a bride. He prayed and His Father told Him who to choose. Once He found her, He paid the dowry or bride price with His blood to secure her for His own for all eternity. He then gave her an "engagement ring;" His Spirit, as proof that He would return for her. He left her with His very own heart within hers as proof that she belonged to Him. He then commanded her to be faithful to Him and wait for His return. He promised that He would never leave nor forsake her even though He was not physically present with her.
We are then told that when Jesus left earth He went to prepare the bridal chamber and wedding feast for His bride, "In my Father's house there are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14:2-3 (NIV)
We are also told that Jesus does not know the day or hour of His return, only His Father does. And finally we are told that He is coming like a thief in the night to snatch away His bride and that trumpets shall announce His coming. Are you seeing the parallels?
As we know the true church is the bride of Christ and she is waiting faithfully for His return. For two thousand years the King of the universe has been waiting for His bride. For two thousand years the bride has waited for the groom. Talk about patience. He has prepared the wedding chamber and the great feast. The bride is making herself ready, and His return for her is very soon…but still she waits….and He waits.
Although no romance story could ever top the gospel in my opinion, I am certain that "The Lake House" is my new favorite romance movie. And why is it my favorite? Because just like Jacob waited for Rachel, and Jesus waited for His bride, Alex had to wait for Kate it they would ever be together. Later in the movie Kate writes a letter to Alex and says this, "And if you still care for me, wait for me.....wait with me......just wait. Wait two years Alex."
Application:
If you are single are you willing to wait on God's perfect timing to provide the mate of His choosing or are you trying to "make things happen?"
If God has brought someone special into your life and you aren't married, are you waiting on God's perfect timing for the relationship to be consummated or are you doing things in your relationship that you know are not honoring to God?
If you are a married man, are you willing to delay your desires and wait upon your wife in order to fulfill not only her needs but also her desires or do you try and manipulate her to do things for you in your timing and in your way?
As a married man if you put your wife's needs and desires above your own, you will be amazed at how sacrificially she will respond to you. You will also be fulfilling Ephesians 5:25-28 regarding loving your wife as Christ loved the church and you will eventually reap the rewards of loving her sacrificially.
Consider these verses about how true love waits:
So Jacob served seven years to get Rachel, but they seemed like only a few days to him because of his love for her. Gen. 29:20 (NIV)
Wait for the Lord and keep His way. He will exalt you to inherit the land; when the wicked are cut off you will see it. Ps. 37:34 (NIV)
I wait for your salvation, O Lord, and I follow your commands. Psalm 119:66 (NIV)</SPAN>
It is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. Lam. 3:26
They tell us how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead--Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath. 1 Thessalonians 1:9-10
Another thought someone brought to my attention. In the stroy of Jacob and Rachel, Jacob actually labored a total of 14 years in order to marry Rachel, however he was able to marry her at the seven year mark......so there you go.....proof that true love will wait as long as it takes for the one they love.