The Bride Has made herself ready
September 15, 2010

The Bride Has Made Herself Ready

Last Friday was a big day in our family life. It was our daughter’s wedding day. After months of planning, preparation and organisation the big day finally arrived. As the ceremony was being held in Belfast, our daughter used my wife’s parent’s house as her base and when we arrived mid-morning the final touches by the hair-stylist and make-up lady were being applied. Naturally, like any bride, our daughter wanted to look her best on her wedding day so there had been the numerous weeks of dieting and even going to the gym to work-out!! She had picked out her dress which she was careful not to stain and her shoes which she made sure were shining and spotless. She had already decided upon what hairstyle she would have on the day and that work of art was now near completion. All sorts of lotions and potions and creams and perfumes had been bought and used, all to make sure that  she looked beautiful as she walked up the aisle to be presented to her groom.  And even if it is the opinion of a somewhat biased father, my daughter did look radiant and absolutely beautiful. What bride would not want to look her best on her wedding day?

I had the privilege of officiating at the wedding ceremony and as my colleague and fellow minister spoke to Sarah and her husband Paul after they had been officially declared husband and wife, and as I reflected on how beautiful my daughter looked, I was reminded of a verse from the final book of the Bible, the book of Revelation. In Chapter 19v7 John the apostle writes  “the wedding of the lamb has come and his bride has made herself ready.”  The “Lamb”  spoken off here is the Lord Jesus and his “Bride”  is his church. The wedding day to which this verse refers is the day when Jesus comes to take his bride to be with him forever at the end of time. Just as a bride looks forward to and prepares meticulously for her wedding day so too those of us who are Christians should be looking forward with eager anticipation to the day when Jesus comes again for us, his bride. Like any bride we should be preparing for that day. We should be making ourselves beautiful by getting rid of every trace of sin in our personal lives and taking whatever steps are necessary to identify and get rid of any public sins (of which there are many) that mar the holy character of the Church.