His Bride has Made Herself Ready

August, 2008

by: Tara Lockie

by: Tiffany Myers

There he stands, his heart pounding in anticipation and eyes focused on the procession in front of him. He’s dressed in his finest. His best friend, standing beside him teases: “Are you ready man? There’s no turning back now!” I have never been more ready, he thinks to himself as the bridal party takes their places. She is more precious to him than gold, a lovely and magnificent gift from God. The scent of candles and fragrant lilies fills the air. He will never forget this moment as long as he lives.

The Bridal March rings out and the guests stand in expectation. His bride appears and begins sauntering down the aisle. Her hair is still wet, hanging round her shoulders leaving water marks as it drips down the back of her satin gown. Her running shoes, tied together and hung around her neck, soil the front of her beaded gown. Her father runs after her with bouquet in hand. “Honey, don’t forget your floooowwwwers,” He calls as her groom looks on, astonished!

How absurd to think that a bride would present herself to her beloved in such a state. And may it never be of us! If we love our Groom as we say we do, we will want to make ourselves especially lovely for Him.

If we all, as the Bride of Christ, are to be ready to meet our Bridegroom beautifully adorned, we must take seriously the urging of the Apostle Paul in First Thessalonians. The fifth chapter begins with a reminder that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, and it continues with instructions for us to make ourselves ready.

It is in this context that Paul says: “We urge you brethren, admonish the unruly, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone” (1 Thess. 5:14). The aim of our laboring on behalf of the bride of Christ should match Paul and Timothy’s as they labored to “… proclaim Him, admonishing every man and teaching every man with all wisdom, so that we may present every man complete in Christ” (Col. 1:28). Our goal is that together we would walk down the aisle of eternity perfectly adorned, having clothed ourselves with the righteousness of Christ, mature and measuring up to the fullness of Him.

Let us then be faithful maids of honor, if you will, assisting those who might be sauntering through life, having forgotten to remove their soiled running shoes. And let us be devoted to one another as bridesmaids of sorts, taking time to encourage our sister when she is tempted to give in to “good enough,” knowing her life possesses hidden potential for the Lord. The tasks of admonishing, encouraging, and helping one another are to be vital parts of our daily interactions with each other in the body so that it may be said, “His bride has made herself ready.” (Rev.19:7).