The summer of my 6th grade year, my parents decided to take my sister Terrie and I to England to meet my mother’s family. It was the best wonder-filled three weeks of my life! There was so much to see and experience, but nothing as great as getting to know these strangers that I was supposed to love. Their personalities unfolded over time, slowly revealing the people that my Mom recounted in stories over the years.
One of these was Aunt Della.
My favorite story about her transpired while we were in London. Our trip happened to coincide with the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Di. Thusly, the whole country was buzzing with anticipation of the royal nuptials. Every village was bestowed with red, white and blue flowers on every pole, with swags of greenery extending across. But nowhere was as festooned as London. It was magical. The physical atmosphere combined with the emotion in the air created an almost electrical undercurrent that reverberated throughout the city. This current of excitement affected my aunt.
Now, I can be a little odd. I know that. I accept it. I, legitimately, get it from my mother. She always had a different way of looking at life. To me, her way was always a lot more fun than what everyone else observed. Therefore, I was not surprised when it started to drizzle while we were standing in a queue and my Mom bought an obnoxious bag adorned with the faces of the royal couple to wear on her head. I was surprised, though, when my Aunt Della sported her own as well! In crowning their heads with a ridiculous chachki, years of “adulting” between them was broken down, turning them into the giggly wild sisters I heard tale of. While I was returning from the W.C. (water closet), also giggling and enthralled with the handful of toilet paper I was clutching that was embossed with the coat of arms, I heard in the distance. . .
“Royalty! Royalty!”
I looked around and saw my Aunt Della running down The Mall (the road in front of the palace). Knees high. Arms flailing. Obnoxious bag positioned proudly on her head. She was chasing a line of black cars ordained with country flags waving from their hoods. She knew this grand wedding brought in royals from around the world. She was declaring for all that this was a moment not to be missed. The gates were opening and people of great value were going inside. They were going to sit at the great wedding banquet and celebrate with the queen and her family. It was a historic event. Worthy of grand scale hoopla, from flowers to crazy ladies with commemorative bags on their heads.
But this is nothing—NOTHING—compared to the day you gave your heart to the Holy One.
Imagine that same scenario, but you are the one being received into the kingdom. The atmosphere is charged with anticipation. The angels are lining the streets, grinning ear to ear. Perhaps with funny hats—or even a bag or two—on their heads. The gate swings open the moment you lay down your life in repentance and become a child of God.
And they run up and down the streets.
“Royalty! Royalty”
And there, waiting to adorn you with His clothes of Righteousness, is the King of Kings. Together, you sit down and eat at the banquet.
Maybe it feels like I’m making a dramatic stretch, but I don’t actually think I have to flare anything up to describe how all of heaven felt when you were bought (by the blood of Jesus) into the family of God.
In the same way, I tell you, there is rejoicing in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents. Luke 15:10
We do see Jesus, who was made lower than the angels for a little while, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. In bringing many sons and daughter to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through what he suffered. Both the one who makes people holy and those who are made holy are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sister. He says, “ I will declare your name to my brothers and sisters; in the assembly I will sing your praises.” Hebrews 2: 9-12
You belong in the family.
All of heaven broke out in a ruckus, worshipping your Rescuer, “the pioneer of salvation”, because of you!
God formed you in your Mother’s womb, sin separated you from His love, Jesus’ death made a bridge back to your Father. You repented. Now walk down that street. Listen to the angels cry, “Royalty!” Brush off the guilty feelings of unworthiness, the orphan mentality that we can carry along with us like an old blanket.
You are the child of the King.
“Royalty!”
“Royalty!”
