Rev19:7-8 – “7 Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” 8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.”
Anyone who has attended a wedding knows that chaotic and frenetic activity is a usual accompaniment at any wedding function. There are stages being decorated, flowers being organised, food stalls being set up, photographers running around and the usual contingent of small kids running around screaming wildly.
In the midst of all this – there comes a time when everything settles down and then the attention of the entire group is focussed on two particular individuals – the groom and the bride. While all the guest and organisers were running around with different aspects of the wedding running through their minds, the bride was in a different place. She was preparing and looking forward to her new life with the love of her life.
Every wedding function that plays out in the human society is a prophetic herald of the grandest marriage of the ages. The Lord Jesus weds his bride – a saintly people redeemed from the earth.
This passage in Revelation tells us about the bride who has made herself ready. Many are called but only few are chosen. This is not a group who stopped moving on after the initial experience of salvation through the blood of the Lamb. This is not a group who stopped moving on after being baptised in water or being filled in the Holy Spirit. This is not a group who stopped moving on after being involved in many ministries.
This is a group that kept moving on in Christ and made themselves ready. It says the bride wore the very dress that she was manifesting when she was on earth – her righteous acts. The beautiful patterns and designs on her wedding dress were weaved and stitched when she was living out a crucified and obedient life on earth. We read in the scriptures that we have been created for good works that the Lord has prepared for us beforehand. The bride is not anxious or frantic about all the good works that she needs to find and do to please her Lord. Instead she knows that by walking in faith, Lord will lead her through all the preordained work.
I want to ask you dear friend – are you preparing and readying yourself to walk down the aisle with the one who loved you and gave His life for you. Are you moving on forward in Christ or are you being content in your current camp.
Maranatha – come Lord Jesus!
