My eyes filled with tears as soon as the music began and the bride stood with her father at the end of the aisle. I later asked my wife Susan if she thought anyone noticed I was really struggling to get it together before I had to speak, but she reminded me of the obvious truth: “No one was looking at you.” Of course, we were all looking at the beautiful bride who had prepared herself perfectly for her husband. She was spotless, without blemish.
Just as Jesus presented himself to his Father as a spotless Lamb so we are to present ourselves to our Savior as a spotless bride. “‘Hallelujah! For our Lord God Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready. Fine linen, bright and clean, was given to her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints.)”
Of course we understand we did not make ourselves spotless; that miracle was accomplished at Calvary. When writing to husbands and wives, Paul said the mystery of Christ and his church was also being proclaimed. “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.”
Our challenge is to remember two pieces of good news: the incredible sacrifice that made us spotless and the reliable promise of a coming Day. The uninvited enemy is constantly throwing mud at the bride, trying to ruin the present and future. But he is a defeated foe and we remind ourselves to constantly rely on the blood of the Lamb. Daily we should present ourselves as living sacrifices; this is our spiritual act of worship. We are not to conform to the pattern of the world, but we are to be transformed by the renewing of our minds. As Jesus understood his purpose, so we want to know the Father’s good, pleasing and perfect will for our lives. (See Rom 12:1-2)
I imagine Jesus is more excited about the coming Day than any groom has ever been. Let us be just as excited and “let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.”
“But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, the home of righteousness. So then, dear friends, since you are looking forward to this, make every effort to be found spotless, blameless and at peace with him.” II Peter 3:10-14 (see also Revelation 21)