Is the Bride Ready?

2 Timothy 2:20-21 But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay, some for honor and some for dishonor. Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.

The phrase 'cleanses himself' got my attention. We are saved by His grace (Eph 2:8) and live, move and stand on that same amazing grace alone. It is His Holy Spirit that does the conviction and cleansing. Then why does Paul say 'cleanse himself'? It means you and I must do the yielding, we must do the surrender as the Spirit does the work in us. 

Rev 19:7 Top of Form

For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has made herself ready.

We are his bride. Out of the rib of first Adam in the garden came Eve. But out of the rib of second Adam, Jesus Christ on mount Calvary came the bride of Christ (John 19:34).

None of us can forget our wedding day – next to the day we accepted Jesus as our savior, the second important day in a girl’s life is her wedding day. We do so much preparation – shopping, make up etc. All such preparation is for a marriage that will last maybe for 20, 30, 40 or 50 years in this earth. But we are talking about an eternal marriage that is going to last for eternity – how much more we must prepare ourselves. We read that the bride has made herself ready. No one else is going to make you ready. It is your responsibility. Are you like the five wise virgins ready to meet the King (Matt 25:10)?

Yield to the work of the Holy Spirit. Don’t be stubborn. Everyday crucify the flesh. Every day seek to please him more. To be transformed into His image (2 Cor 2:18) is our goal.

Our life is a mist/vapor according to James 4:13. We sometimes live this life as though we have all the time in front of us. Today is the day to serve the Lord. Don’t postpone saying I am just in my 20s, 30s etc. Let us come out of our spiritual complacency, our lethargy, our comfort zone and make this life of mist count.

Well done my good and faithful servant (Matt 25:21) – that is the biggest title anyone can have. He is not saying successful servant. He just wants you to be faithful with the talents he has entrusted to you. Don’t hide them like that wicked servant.

Is the bride ready to meet her bridegroom?