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| Bride (left) and Broad (right) |
We all have chance to live two completely opposites lives. We can live as committed follower of Christ or we can be a conqueror of this world. The temptation is often before us and some try to be both. I like to think of it in terms of women; for women often make things easier to understand. In fact, they are often where comparisons are best understood. The choice in this life is to be Bride (of Christ) or Broad (which is way that leads to riches, but also eternal death).
The Bride and Broad are nothing alike. The Bride is meek, loving, tender, gentle, kind, forgives easily, walks in truth, and understands frailty. The Broad in contrast is mighty, lustful, tyrannical, gruesome, kindling, is unforgiving, walks in deceit, and undermines the frail. The Bride sees the world as Christ does, a place of fallen people who need a Savior and God's love. The Broad sees a world that needs to be conquered and controlled through severity and great lordship.
From the perspective of the world the Bride is a fool. One who does not seize opportunities to gain power and wealth. They see her as too gentle and gullible. But from a godly viewpoint she is generous and god-like. From perspective of the world the Broad is seizes opportunities, gaining power and wealth. They celebrate her, for she is resourceful, political, and capable of manipulating others with her strings and webs. But from a godly perspective she is in bondage, she seeks to keep power and a dominion that does not belong to her and is slowly selling herself like harlot for her halls.
To be a Bride, a believer must be submissive and seek the Bridegroom Jesus Christ's wishes above her own. For the Broad this is undesirable, she seeks to be in control, and even her husband or lovers are bent beneath her rule. The Broad cannot fathom a love that makes you care for nothing of this world; she does not understand a love that transcends power, possession, and pleasure. A love that teaches tenderness, gentleness, kindness, forgiveness, and truthfulness are the real riches.
The Broad at the end of her days will find her power drained, her possessions passing to others, and pleasure fleeting (not a comfort anymore). Her body will not longer give her the energy to bend others to her rule. Others will take advantage of her new found frailty, and there at the end she will see the Bride not as foolish, but fortunate. In that moment the Broad will live the final stage of her namesake, the path she forged and paved leading to the flames. For she rejected the Bridegroom, and thus must be shutout of the Wedding Feast (Matthew 25:1-13).
The world looks at the Bride of Christ in same way the Broad does, because they are on the Broad path leading to death. ( See Matthew 7:13). We as Christians look foolish and unwise, but in time when those who have walked the broad path reach the end of their empire building and ambition they will see how fleeting their fighting, finagling, and forceful rule leads to furnace of eternal torment. The Bride in contrast who has been tortured, trampled upon, and treated like idiot will stand in the delight of the Bridegroom Jesus and live forever in perpetual peace, love, and joy.
So what will it be? Will you choose to be a Bride and face the belittling of this short life, but end up in perpetual paradise with Jesus Christ? Or will you choose the wide way of the Broad who gains great reputation, riches, and reverence in this life, but shall receive the Outer Darkness, Gnashing of Teeth, and Lake of Fire? (Matthew 25:30, Revelation 20:15).
The time has come to make a choice. Be the Bride or the Broad, you cannot be both. (See Matthew 6:24)
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