In many parts of the Bible, Jesus Christ is pictured as the Bridegroom of the Church, and someday, He will come back to spend eternity with His Bride. So what kind of Bride would Jesus find when He comes back?
“…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her. He did it to make her holy. He made her clean by washing her with water and the word. He did it to bring her to himself in all her glory. He wants a church that has no stain or wrinkle or any other flaw, one that is holy and without blame.” Ephesians 5:25-27 (NIrV)
When Jesus Christ returns for His Bride the Church, He will find us to be so pure and without blame, like a pure virgin bride – without any stain, impurity and holy through and through. This Bride that meets Jesus will be so glorious – shining ever so brightly as a light to a dark world.
- The Holy Spirit makes it His business to prepare us so thoroughly to be the spotless Bride. That’s why He is cleansing you of all unrighteousness, impurity and hints of immorality, and making you looking very much like the image of the Groom.
- The Bride gets ready today, now. Revelations 19:7 tells us that before Christ returns, the “Bride will have made herself ready”. We are not sitting around doing nothing, waiting for the Groom to rescue us. Jesus is not going to return to a lazy, compromising or helpless Bride. His Bride/Church will be glorious, strong and beautiful. She will be victorious and effective as light and salt, transforming herself and her neighborhood to make it ready for the Groom.
- The Groom wants a huge wedding feast, with as many as the Holy Spirit can bring in! So there is work to be done; the invitation is open to all the nations!
These are indeed exciting times as we prepare ourselves for the coming of our Beloved Christ.
Think on This:
In your family, work or places of recreation, what would it look like for you to be holy, blameless, victorious and effective witness for Jesus your Bridegroom?
Take This To Heart:
“Arise [from spiritual depression to a new life], shine [be radiant with the glory and brilliance of the Lord]; for your light has come,
And the glory and brilliance of the Lord has risen upon you.” – Isaiah 60:1