What do you picture in your mind when you hear the word “wedding”? One of the first images that comes to mind for most people is a beautiful bride, adorned in white. We might also think of a woman who has kept herself pure, awaiting that blessed day when two will become one under the provisions of God’s marriage covenant.
In the Scriptures, we know that the church is the bride of Christ. But during this time when we are awaiting the upward call of our Bridegroom, how are we living? After all, every bride looks forward to her wedding day with great anticipation. In ancient Jewish weddings, while the bride-to-be was excitedly waiting for her beloved to return from building a place for them, she was being observed for moral purity.
Ephesians 5:25-27 reads: Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish. The Greek word for “without blemish” is “amomos” and it means that the purity obtained is of the highest quality and without any defect whatsoever. It is interesting that the same word is used in 1 Peter 1:19 where Christ is described “as of a lamb without blemish”. This is the marvel of imputed righteousness! We who were blemished, spotted, wrinkled, defiled and on our way to a Christless eternity have now been made perfect, unblemished, undefiled, spotless, sanctified and soon to be glorified, all because we have been washed clean through the blood of Jesus. But with this knowledge comes responsibility. Just as the earthly bride was expected to remain morally pure while waiting for her bridegroom, the church is commanded to remain spiritually pure.
In 2 Peter 3 we read these words:-
Verse 14: Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless.
Verse 17: You therefore, beloved, since you know this beforehand, beware lest you also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked.
One of the most potent weapons Satan has at his disposal to tempt the bride of Christ to commit spiritual adultery is false teachers. 2 Peter 2:13-14: They are spots and blemishes, carousing in their own deceptions while they feast with you, having eyes full of adultery and that cannot cease from sin, enticing unstable souls. Notice the language – whereas the sanctified bride of Christ is to be presented without spot or blemish, the seductive false teacher is identified by having those very spots and blemishes.
If we are properly anticipating our wedding day, that anticipation should lead us to be forsaking spiritual adultery and fixing our eyes on Jesus. Titus 2:11-14 says this: For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
In the book of Esther, the events begin with the Persian King Ahasuerus searching for a new queen. Eligible virgins throughout the provinces were gathered but they did not meet the king immediately. Intense preparations needed to be undertaken. Esther 2:12 reads: Each young woman’s turn came to go in to King Ahasuerus after she had completed twelve months’ preparation, according to the regulations for the women, for thus were the days of their preparation apportioned: six months with oil of myrrh, and six months with perfumes and preparations for beautifying women.
Well, the time frame and preparations may seem excessive to us, but it demonstrates the seriousness with which those in the king’s court took to meticulously prepare the women to be deemed fit to be part of the king’s consort. When they entered that throne room, they were to be presented as the absolute best version of themselves they could be. It made me think – while we remain on this earth during the period of our betrothal to the King of Kings, are we taking it seriously? Are we being meticulous in our preparation. Are we redeeming the time as the Scriptures command? Are we choosing to be a holy people, set apart for our Bridegroom?
I will end by affirming the wonderful truth about Jesus to those who may not know Him. Whilst the virgins of Persia had to be purified before they met the king, you can come to the King of Kings just as you are and He will cleanse you. You don’t need to do anything other than ask Him to wash you clean and purify you with His shed blood. And if you accept Him in saving faith, then you too can share in the anticipation we feel as we await that moment that Revelation 19:6-8 describes as follows: And I heard, as it were, the voice of a great multitude, as the sound of many waters and as the sound of mighty thunderings, saying, “Alleluia! For the Lord God Omnipotent reigns! Let us be glad and rejoice and give Him glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and His wife has made herself ready.” And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.