In Matthew chapter 25 verse 10, Jesus tells us that those wise brides or virgins who were ready, went with him to the wedding feast, and the door was shut. The brides were waiting, they were awake, they were hopeful and they had plenty of oil to keep the light aglow.
Last week, we talked about the proposal between the Bridegroom and the Bride. The bridegroom leaves to prepare a place for her, and the bride waits and makes herself ready.
From the time she drank the cup, she was different.
She was called consecrated, set apart, bought with a price. She is not her own.
Before a Princess Bride meets her Bridegroom, she must be dressed for the part.
A Bride does not dream of walking down the aisle in rags or even a soiled dress?
For that was her old nature.
Isaiah 64: 6 says, But we are all like an unclean thing, And all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags; We all fade as a leaf, And our iniquities, like the wind, Have taken us away.
The Princess Bride wears White for she is a new creation in Christ.
When we accepted Jesus proposal to be His Bride, we were washed and redeemed in His blood. For He has put off my rags and clothed me in gladness (Psalm 31:11).
Jesus is coming back for His Princess Bride who is holy and without blemish.
What does this look like?
Ephesians 5: 27 tells us “so as to present the church to himself in splendor, without a spot or wrinkle or anything of the kind—yes, so that she may be holy and without blemish.
2 Peter 3: 11-14 tells us
Since everything is going to be destroyed like this, what kind of people should you be? You should lead holy and godly lives, 12 as you wait for the Day of God and work to hasten its coming. That Day will bring on the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt from the heat; 13 but we, following along with his promise, wait for new heavens and a new earth,[b] in which righteousness will be at home. 14 Therefore, dear friends, as you look for these things, do everything you can to be found by him without spot or defect and at peace.
Being holy includes our thoughts, actions, heart motivations and our obedience towards God.
1 Peter 1: 13-16 tells us,
13 Therefore, get your minds ready for work, keep yourselves under control, and fix your hopes fully on the gift you will receive when Yeshua the Messiah is revealed. 14 As people who obey God, do not let yourselves be shaped by the evil desires you used to have when you were still ignorant. 15 On the contrary, following the Holy One who called you, become holy yourselves in your entire way of life; 16 since the Tanakh says,
“You are to be holy because I am holy.”
As a Princess Bride wears her wedding dress, she is Clothed in Righteousness.
The Hebrew bride worked on preparing her trousseau, getting ready. This was the time when she sewed and prepared her special garment and veil. If she went out during the day, she wore her veil so others would know she was spoken for.
Romans 13: 14 says,
Instead, clothe yourselves with the Lord Yeshua the Messiah; and don’t waste your time thinking about how to provide for the sinful desires of your old nature.
Collisions 3: 12 tells us
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
The Princess Bride’s wedding dress symbolizes purity, holiness and salvation. As we clothe ourselves in holiness, the world will see that we are set apart. We shine bright with the light of Jesus in us. A Princess Bride adorned in beauty.
Isaiah 61:10
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
I am reminded of an old song sung by Twila Paris, “How beautiful is the body of Christ”. Are we ready? Can we stand before our King, wearing our wedding dress of holiness, being spotless, blameless and beautiful in His eyes?
Stand firm beloved, keeping ourselves pure for our Bridegroom, even in a impure world until He returns for us.
For He is coming soon. Behold the Bridegroom cometh!
-The clock will strike midnight, and she’ll be gone!
Heart Check
Unforgiveness, bitterness, jealousy, envy, strife, lust, worldliness, lies of the enemy . . . so many things can soil your wedding dress.
This is the time for you to take to sit with your Master, at His feet. Ask Him to search your heart. If you need delieverance, receive it right now. Ask God to deliver you. If you need forgiveness, ask the Lord to forgive you. Renounce the things of your past, your secrets, your sin. Don’t let your sin keep you as a peasant wearing rags. But, repent and be set free. Dress the part. You are a Princess Bride in the making and He is making you beautiful. In His time.
Have you accepted Jesus' proposal to be King of your heart?
Now is the time to make Him Lord of your life.
Blessings and Shalom,
CLICK HERE FOR CHAPTER 3 {CROWNING BEAUTY}
Copyright © 1998 by David H. Stern. All rights reserved.
