Step by step, one foot in front of the other. I follow his lead with my hand resting gently in his. I hear a click and there's a brief squeak as he ushers me through the golden front door. And then we stop and as I gaze upon my new surroundings I hear a faint click as I recognize the sound of a lock falling into place. I find myself in a beautiful hallway with cream colored trimmings and soft purple walls, the color of royalty. Yes, I am in the hallway of a home belonging to royalty. There are beautiful paintings and verses filled with promise and hope. There is even a marble staircase on the right side that leads up to another hallway. There are magnificent flowing tapestries upon the front windows.
As I'm exploring I feel the familiar presence of my guide. No, not my guide. My Prince. His title is marked by the crown of thorns around his head. His hands seek mine in his once more, and he looks at me with a smile that radiates pure love.
"My dear princess," he says, "I must leave you here for now, but before I go I must explain. This is the house of your life. You have been faithful and given all you are and all you have to me, and so the time has come for me to bring you here. However, only this hallway is ready for you. I must go ahead and prepare each room of the house, and I will bring it to you when it is complete and ready for your presence. You are safe here. Do not be afraid when robbers bang on the door and try to get in. Trust that I have taken every precaution for your safety. While you may not see me for a little while, I am always with you and will always fight for you, you need only be still. All I ask for is your trust. I can hardly wait to see your face light up as I show you what I have prepared for you! So now, my beautiful bride, it is time for me to go. I will see you soon." And with a kiss on my forehead he's gone.
Who am I that my Prince Jesus has prepared a house of royalty for me? I never dreamed I would be led here! I begin to explore and walk around the hallway. It is only now that I realize the doors around me. All of the doors have a golden label, and some of them have words etched into the precious metal. I walk past a door that reads "Calling", and another that reads "Moving Out", and yet another that reads "Marriage". I try to open the third door but it will not open. That room is not ready for me yet. Other doors have only a few letters etched in so I can not make out their titles. I realize that behind each door my Prince is preparing the room for me, and I am filled with excitement and try to imagine what incredible things I will find behind the door. I know he will not open a single door until that room is ready for me. Oh how I long to walk through each door, but I know that I don't want to walk through a single door with any baggage, with any emotion that will hinder me from taking in the fullness of the room. I only want to walk through the doors with a joyous, grateful, praising heart.
When I get up I walk to the very last door in the hallway, directly opposite the first door Jesus and I came through. This golden label reads "Everlasting Life", and I realize that the view behind this door will be the greatest of them all, the one that will take the most time to prepare. Oh who am I that the heavenly prince would love me, save me, and prepare a lovely home for me! I have done nothing to earn this gift. I turn and find two magnificent paintings on the wall. The first features my Prince bloody and weak nailed to a cross. A reminder of the price that was paid, how great my Prince's love for me is. The second painting features an empty tomb with white cloth draped over stone upon which his body once lay. It is the reminder of his triumph, the victory. And it is through both of these paintings that I realize why I am here. Nothing I have done, other than taking the hand of my Prince, has brought me here. It was all him.
I begin to sing and hear my song echo off the walls with such grace. My joy leads me to dance, and I spin around like a young girl in a new dress and laugh as I fall down dizzy. And with a deep breath I whisper the words, "Thank you Jesus!"
I walk up the marble staircase and see a magnificent mirror with words written on the frame. The words read "Encourager" "Supporter" "Captivating" "Loved" "Compassionate" "Daring" "Nurturer" "Joy" "Pure" "Blameless" and "Princess". Below the large mirror is a small table upon which sits a beautiful glittering crown, a princess crown. No, my crown. I gently place the crown upon my head and gaze in the mirror as I see myself in a brand new and altogether lovely way!
Oh how loved I am!
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