Ever studied through the book of Revelation? My pastor has done an excellent job unpacking the oh-so-complex book, and every single week, I am blown away! I have never studied Revelation on my own, partly because I thought it was scary. And partly because it talks about dragons with lots of heads and I don’t know what to make of that. But, since Deric has started walking us through, I have been so eager to learn more from week to week. We are in Chapter 11, and last week our super talented worship leader introduced us to a new song…and it echoes some of the last words from John “Even so, come Lord Jesus, come!” Today, before we sang the song, he challenged us to stop and think about the words we were singing. So often, I sing the words to songs simply because they are on the screen. But today, it was different.
“Like a bride waiting for her groom…we’ll be a church ready for you. Every heart longing for our King…we sing 'Even so, come, Lord Jesus, come'"
Go ahead, just listen to it here.
That particular line in the song just gets me.
Do I really understand what it means to be a bride waiting on King Jesus?
Now, as you know, I am single and never experienced being a bride, but I have, many times, been one that has been honored to stand by one of my beautiful bride friends on their wedding day. And oh my goodness, the days and weeks and months that lead to the wedding are FULL of planning and making sure every detail is in order. It goes a little something like this: we have to order dresses, taste cakes, get a garter, make a playlist, practice makeup, get the perfect hairstyle, decide on a venue, get the perfect shoe, and don’t forget something old, new, borrowed and blue! And more times than I can even remember, I have been standing by a bride in the back of the church as she prepares to walk down the aisle to the man she will spend the rest of her life with. The nerves won’t seem to subside and the excitement oozes from every corner of the room! As the doors swing open, you can feel the anticipation of the guests with eyes strictly on the one in white, as it builds to the climactic moment when the bride lays her eyes on her groom for the very first time! My breath has been taken away by this once in a lifetime moment more times than I can count!
And, all of this has been from a third party perspective!
I cannot even imagine how the actual bride feels!
Today as we were singing those rich words, I was brought to tears by the fact that I AM A BRIDE…something I have always wanted to be since I was a little girl! We all dream of our beautiful white gown, with our favorite color popping around the room, our friends standing by us, and dancing with our daddy at the reception. And today, I realized that I will, no doubt, experience a wedding, not as a bridesmaid, but as a BRIDE! With the new mercies that God promises each day when my feet hit the floor, I am one day closer to my wedding day. And as much as I long for an earthly husband, I know that it is meant to serve as a reminder that I will experience an even greater day-and the perfect husband. I am humbled beyond words that the Creator of everything and everyone has chosen me to be his bride! But above choosing me, he has chosen his church…the ones that truly trust in him! And those days, weeks, and months preceding that day is NOW. What am I doing to build up the ones that he loves, his church? Am I being faithful? Am I inviting everyone to this wedding day…because oh what a celebration it will be! Our Heavenly groom has sent out the ultimate invitation, and we get to tell everyone we know about this day! Are all of the details in order? And the question we must answer as his church is this: will we be a bride that is ready, one that is presented beautifully and without blemish to our Lord? Ouch. I don’t know about you, but I want to be a church that truly is ready for him.
As my lips sang those words today, my heart, too, was able to sing a new song…with spiritual eyes that see that this world is not my home and that my wedding day is coming! Your wedding day is coming. May we prepare our hearts and our lives for his return!
"For your Maker is your husband,
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called"
Isaiah 54:5
