In the natural, the picture of a complete family is a family with both a father and a mother. In the combined love of a father and a mother, a child not only finds “her fill”, but in the love of a family, he also finds “his place”. Whereas the love of a father brings identity and structure and form and safety, the love of a mother fills that form with its formidable and immense bosom of nurturing. At the same time, I have yet to see in nature or in humanity, a mother that would not lay down her life for her own offspring when in peril. The maternal instinct is a phenomenon of the utmost pedigree and distinction. And it is a dimension of “the complete picture of love” that God has fashioned upon the anvil of family as His blueprint of love.

And if God is the author of family, and if all that is seen in the natural is a type and a shadow and a pointer to all that is unseen (Hebrews 8:5), then if God is Father, then where then is the love of “a father and a mother” in the storyline of the spiritual home? God has made provision for the “maternal love” in His model of family through “the bride” of His Son. Just like in the natural where a man and woman become “one flesh”, on the day when the bride weds the Son of God, they too shall truly become one, but instead of being of one flesh, they shall be, in every sense, of “one spirit”. For it is written. “But he who is joined unto the Lord is one spirit." (1 Corinthians 6:17). 

And just like in the natural, where the husband “chooses” his bride, in the spiritual, the bride is “the elect”. And just like in the natural where the bride has to agree to the marriage proposal, in the spiritual, it is written that “many are called but few are chosen”. Whilst many are called to be part of the greater “family of God”, not all respond to the call to “be the bride”. For in the spiritual, so too does the bride have to agree to the marriage proposal. And when the bride of Christ is truly wed to her husband, the love that is to be released upon the harvest fields of plenty through that wedlock of oneness will not only produce an offspring that knows the fullness of the love of both “a father and a mother”, but it will build a family that will know, in both spirit and truth, the extent and measure of the love that is embodied in the great love charter of “loving your neighbour as yourself”.

For when it comes to those who will carry the banner of maternal love in the kingdom of God’s family, is it not written “that some” will put on the glory of the celestial as their bodies are changed into the likeness of His glorious body (Philippians 3:21) whilst others will manifest their sonship on the terrestrial plane, having their bodies changed from corruptible to incorruptible (I Corinthians 15:40-41, 53-54)? And of those who put on the glory of the celestial, are these not those of the Bride of Christ who in this time and season choose to buy of Him gold tried in the fire, that they may be rich; and white raiment, that they may be clo­thed, so that the shame of their nakedness does not appear, and to anoint their eyes with eye-salve, that they may see. (Revelations 3:18)? For just as in the natural the bride has the same three things, so too must the bride have the same three things in the spiritual. 

In the natural, the bride firstly wears the pure gold of her marriage ring and inherits all the riches of her husband. She also wears the white garment of the wedding dress, so that the shame of her nakedness does not appear. And through love, she has had her eyes opened to see through the eye of the heart. Likewise, the spiritual bride, who like the wise virgin who goes out to meet her bridegroom with her lamp at midnight (amidst the fullness of the darkness of the world), she too shall wear the marriage ring of the pure gold of the glory of the heavenly body. Which is the immense richness of the gold of the divine nature. Which is “the likeness” of the Son. And likewise, she will wear the white garment of her wedding dress, being the righteousness of the Son. Which is the silver that because it is purified seven times, it is so pure that it appears white. Which is “the image” of the Son. “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.” (Romans 8:29). The bride is thus those for whom He foreknew would be conformed to the image of His Son. At the same time, being the firstborn “among many brethren” speaks ultimately of a big family. And thirdly, she will have had the eyes of her heart opened by the true love of both a bride and a mother so that she may love her neighbour as herself. Which, as in the natural, is to lay her life down for another. For is it not written that no greater love is there than one who lays down his life for his friends? (John 15:13). And in this love, both “father and mother” of the family of God will be of the same heart and of one spirit. Which is a oneness of spirit with the spirit of He who has already laid His life down for His neighbour. “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will guide you with My eye.” (‭‭Psalms‬ ‭32:8‬). “Thus says the LORD: “Stand in the ways and see, And ask for the old paths, where the good way is, And walk in it; Then you will find rest for your souls.’” (‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭6:16‬).

For whilst the harvest is plenty, the labourers are few. Together, the bride and the bridegroom will go out and gather the great harvest so that the family of God may be complete. For is it not written in John 17:20, “Neither pray I for “these alone” , but for “them also” which shall believe on Me through “their word””? There are two groups of people mentioned here. The bridegroom is praying for those who He has sent into the world (the elect, the bride, those who will have the glory of celestial bodies), as well as for the others of the world who will then come to believe on Him through the bride’s word (witness), being all those who make up the great field of the harvest of plenty. From the above scripture it is clear that those who He foreknew before the foundations of time would respond to the call of the bride are additional to those who will ultimately believe on Him through their word. The many that are called shall all believe on Him through the word of the few who like Isaiah 6:8, put up their hand to be chosen. Which is the fruit of the great love of family, which all begins with the complete love of a Father and a mother.

“And then a great wonder appeared in heaven: There was a woman who was clothed with the sun, and the moon was under her feet. She had a crown of twelve stars on her head. She was pregnant and cried out with pain because she was about to give birth.” (Revelation 12:1-2).

Sol Deo gloria.

Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be all the honour and all the glory for ever and ever. Amen. (1 Timothy 1:17).