Between 34^th Street and 39^th Street on Seventh Avenue in Manhattan, New York, is an area designated the Garment District if New York. That stretch is also called Fashion Avenue. When my daughter Stephanie, living in New York City, was searching for a wedding dress, she and I headed for Seventh Avenue. It had small and large shops, and everything and more than you could need for wedding clothing.

From the first shop to the last, we were greeted cordially with the question, “Have you seen many dresses?” It was a universal code which meant, “Are you just browsing, or are you ready to buy?” When we shopped outside the Garment District, it was the same. I almost laughed when yet another clerk recited it.

King Asa, descendant of Solomon, and King of Judah, had found success in his reign by following the God of his ancestors until near the end of his life, when he called upon King Ben-hadad of Aram for protection from an invasion by anther king. Asa’s prophet, Hanani, came to Asa and said, “The eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.” (2 Chronicles 16:9)

The clerks who spoke to us were ranging through all their customers to find those who were seriously ready to make a commitment and purchase.

God’s eyes had found in Asa a man who was committed to God, but who, after years of proving his commitment, turned to a pagan king for help against yet another king. The reason why Asa made such a choice is unknown, but the consequences moved his nation toward a paganism that would show up in future generations.

In a fallen world our conversion delivers the light of life from Christ, the commitment that follows is to share and spread that light: “Whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done is in the sight of God.” (Jesus, in John 3:21)

A wedding dress is meant to be a once in a lifetime purchase. The commitment that follows is the measure of the marriage. God waits patiently for us to come to the light, and again patiently for us to share the light. He seeks those who have “seen many dresses,” and are ready to make a lasting commitment to the truth of Christ, whose faithfulness is permanent and unshakable.

Love in Him,

Prue