The Guarantee

2 Corinthians 5:4-5
While we live in these earthly bodies, we groan and sigh, but it's not that we want to die and get rid of these bodies that clothe us. Rather, we want to put on our new bodies so that these dying bodies will be swallowed up by life. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit. (NLT)

I am reminded of getting prepared for a marriage. This is one of the biggest events in a couple's life together. The man asks the women for her hand in marriage. When she says yes, he places an engagement ring on her hand guaranteeing his commitment to her.

Months of work precedes the actual wedding day. The venue has to be decided upon and the date must coincide with availability.

The musicians must be contracted for as well as the videographer. The couple goes through a series of counseling sessions with the minister to insure they know what they are getting into with each other and to confirm their relationship with the Lord. All this happens to get to a short ceremony where they are pronounced husband and wife.

As believers we are also preparing for a marriage. We are the brides to be and Jesus is the groom. Like out earthly marriage, the first step is saying yes to the marriage proposal. When we accepted Jesus as our Lord and Savior and decided to follow Him, we said yes.

Better than a five carat diamond ring, He sends the Holy Spirit to live in us as His guarantee that we will be His bride when we pass over from this earthly realm to eternity.