The Bride Hath Made Herself Ready
October 21st many years ago, my family and I made our way to the Baptist Church that we belonged to. This was my wedding day. I would soon be married to Robert Fawver, the love of my life. I wore the wedding dress that Robert’s mom had made for me, adorned with lace and pearls along with a beautiful veil. I peered into the mirror making sure that my hair and make-up was as perfect as I could get it. I heard my cue in song, and my grandfather escorted me to Robert’s side. We said our “I do’s”, and I became Mrs. Robert Fawver.
My mother assisted me in preparation for my wedding, but I am the one who actually “made myself ready”. We read in Revelation 19:7, “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready.” Now, obviously, I could not save myself. The provision for my salvation was made through Jesus; His death on the cross and his resurrection. I simply had to call upon Jesus to be the Lord of my life (Rom. 10:13). …But once I am born again, I have a responsibility to look in the Word daily and be a doer of that Word (James 1:23-25). These passages declare that in this, I will be blessed in my “deeds” (works).
We read in Ephesians 5:25-27, “Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it: That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.” Notice, the church is sanctified and cleansed when the Word is allowed to wash it. How many Christians hear the word but are not doers. For example, God’s children may read the Word that they should confess their sins to Jesus, and that He would be faithful and just to forgive them and cleanse them from all unrighteousness (1 Jn. 1:9). …But many of God’s children sin and keep on sinning without repentance. It is the Lord’s desire for his church to be glorious and holy. Again, the church must make herself ready for her marriage to the Lamb of God, Who is Jesus.
Our preparation should be ongoing. We do not know when Jesus will come for His bride. As we look into God’s Holy Word with the intention of not being a “forgetful hearer”, we will be changed into the same image of our Lord moving from glory to glory by the Spirit of the Lord (Jms. 1:3-25, 2 Cor. 3:18).
Have you made yourself ready for the soon-coming of Jesus? Have you looked at your life in the mirror of God’s Word? When life doesn’t agree with the Word, we need to confess it as sin and do its commands. Be sure to know, my friend, Jesus is coming in an hour that you think not (Mt. 24:50). Be ready!!!