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by Rebecca Landry

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We see in the entire Bible – from Old Testament to New Testament – that the Lord uses sexual metaphors and romantic imagery to describe His relationship with His people. And in the New Testament, Jesus presents himself as the bridegroom.

In Ephesians, it says “a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh. This is a profound mystery—but I am talking about Christ and the church.” (5:31-32)

Marriage is an image of Christ and the church and those who are married should be amazed at the privilege and trembling at the challenge of living out that sacrificial love.

No marriage always accurately reflects God’s great love for his people. Regardless, the shape of it does. What a high calling.

So, if marriage is an image of Christ and the church, it seems like that would be the best of the best. But, where do the Christian singles fit in? Do singles also have a remarkably beautiful calling that points to the Savior's love? Or is their best option to hope for marriage and do the best they can in the meantime?

What we often forget is that marriage is an IMAGE of a future reality. It's like a postcard. Human marriage is not the ultimate marriage. It's a postcard of marriage that gives us a glimpse of the real thing.

Jesus is the bridegroom and we, his people and bride, are on our way to the wedding.

The marriages here and now are simply a foretaste (and often a poor representation) of what the reality is – the reality of marriage to Christ.

Christian singleness simply skips the “image” of marriage and directly waits for the reality of when we are united with Christ. We are anticipating the marriage of Christ and the church.

“Sex is a beautiful thing, a loving gift from a generous and abundant God. But it is not a definitive thing. It is a shadow, a parable, a silhouette whose true realization is found in the love God has for his people. It is a signpost to another reality, and this is what makes it mysterious, significant and transcendent… Married people, when they assume that sex is there for them and their spouse, can become so preoccupied with the image that they forget the ultimate reality. Singles know better.”
(Andrew Wilson)

But sometimes singles don't know better. Sometimes singles are even more preocucupied with the image and the possibility of one day having our own human love story - an idealized version of earthly romance - that we also forget the Reality. May the reality of oneness and union with Christ be ever in the forefront of our minds and ours, whether single or married.

A relationship with Jesus is not the consolation prize for singles. He is the ultimate prize for all of us. Singleness that points to the Savior. What a privilege. Don’t forget it.