Have you ever had to plan a wedding? I have performed many over the years and I am always amazed at all that goes into the preparation. Most weddings take over a year to plan. Even then, the bride is often up late the night before the big day tying up loose ends. There are a lot of traditions that surround a wedding day. There are ceremonial traditions like the exchange of rings and the tradition that the bride and groom cannot see each other before the ceremony. Then there are all the fringes that need to be secured. Getting a dress, tuxedos, photographer, a reception hall, the church, and flowers is the minimum. Others go into much greater details. It is not uncommon to wait on the bride on her wedding day as she prepares her hair and her makeup. In addition to the dynamics of planning the ceremony and reception, there is also the challenge of finding a place to live, a home. I remember taking possession of our first home one week before our wedding and how exhausting it was trying to get everything put together at the last minute.
The Bible describes the day we get to Heaven as a wedding day. Revelation calls it the “Wedding Feast of the Lamb.” Just as many brides plan their wedding day from a very young age, we should spend our whole life building our eternal home and preparing for the day we meet God. Accepting Jesus is the equivalent of the engagement ring and the promise of a much greater hope. The Bible says we are the “bride” of Christ. In our Western culture we have been trending toward a very individualistic mentality. We tend to think of eternity the same way. We are not individually the “brides” of Christ, but collectively. God is not a polygamist. He is not marrying millions of individual brides, but one bride – His church. The only thing delaying His coming is waiting for His bride to be ready. While we are all focused on our individual lives and spirituality, He is waiting for us to come together and focus on our commitment to corporate prayer and worship. He is waiting for us to learn how to love each other, encourage each other, and hold each other accountable. He is waiting for us to build His house.
Throughout human history God has not allowed man to see His face. He is waiting for our wedding day. When we learn to commit to being His bride and building His house, then we will get to see His face. Don’t wait until the last minute to plan your wedding day. Let us work together now and become one bride, one body. Christ will never call off the wedding, but He may have already delayed it several times as He waits for His bride to get ready. As you work toward that day don’t just focus on yourself, but work together with other believers to become His bride. Hebrews 10:24–25 (NKJV) “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”