Getting Ready For the Wedding!

Tomorrow evening Kim’s brother’s oldest son, Glenn, is getting married. It’s going to be a big event since he is the eldest grandchild on that side of the family, although not the first to get married (our son, Jonathan was the first).  Our children will all be with us, as will Kim’s parents—and of course, lots of family whom we have not seen in a while.    

Kim and I know well what it is like to prepare for a wedding.  After all, it was less than two years ago that our son Jonathan married Danielle. Months of preparation, lead up to the ceremony in which the bride and groom are joined together, followed by a few hours of celebration. And, I can just picture what tomorrow is going to be like in the hours leading up to the wedding.  The bride and her bridesmaids will be doing their hair, putting on their makeup, and making sure their dresses look just right.  The groom and his groomsmen may be given some assignments for the morning after which they’ll get washed up, shaven, make sure their hair is just right, and put on their formal wear.  Family members and friends will spend much of their day as well preparing themselves for the big event.  I may even go get my haircut today!  (I think Kim got her nails done yesterday!)

 

No one just shows up to a wedding.  Everyone takes at least some time to prepare himself or herself, to get themselves ready.  And, that’s exactly what the Bible calls us to do as we look forward to that time the Bible calls, the “Wedding Supper of the Lamb.”   

The Scriptures often liken God’s people to a bride who will one day be united with her groom, Christ.  And, it tells us that when that occurs there will be a great celebration.  In the meantime, however, we are exhorted to prepare ourselves by making sure that we are living the way God would have us live—filled with faith and according to the righteousness of Christ; full of kindness, goodness, peace, and love.  Now is our time to make sure that when the wedding day arrives we will not be caught off guard; that we will be ready!

The Apostle John wrote these words: “ ‘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 her to wear.’ (Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of God’s holy people.) Then the angel said to me, ‘Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding supper of the Lamb!’ ” (Revelation 19:6-9 – NIV)

It’s wonderful to receive an invitation to a wedding. But, it’s quite another to respond by getting oneself ready for the wedding.  We’ve all been sent an invitation through the coming of Jesus, God’s Son. Let’s spend our lives preparing ourselves; doing all we can to make sure we are ready for the best wedding we will ever attend!

Have a great day!

Pastor Tim Harris