being the bride

As much as I would love to sit here and talk about the beautiful love story my husband and I have, there is someone who loved me even more and His story is far more important than ours. 

Over the past few weeks, our lead pastor has been preaching on Heaven. All throughout my life I've heard message after message on Heaven...walking down the streets of gold; a place where there is no more weeping or pain; a place that I can't wait to get to! I've always heard about getting to Heaven, but have heard very little about what happens after we get there. Of course I've read about the millennial reign, with a new Heaven and new earth in Revelation, but hearing my pastor paint the picture of our lives after we get to Heaven rekindled my desire to dig into Revelation. 

In saying that, I've been reading through Revelation over the past few evenings and I couldn't help but draw a comparison. If you read Revelation 19, John describes the Lamb's Wedding; when the bride of Christ (the church) is reunited with the Lord. 

"Let us rejoice, be happy and give Him glory because it's time for the marriage of the Lamb. His bride has made herself ready." Revelation 19:7

As I was reading this, and since my husband and I are just now coming up on our first wedding anniversary, I instantly remembered that feeling of "making yourself ready." Countless hours spent in the salon getting my hair done, sitting in front of the mirror putting on my make up, and even weeks and months before that day, the numerous miles ran making sure my dress looked just right on me. I can relate to what John is saying, as I'm sure many of you can. There are a plethora of preparations that go into a wedding...and not just with the bride. The flowers, the dress, the setting, the food, the photographer, and the list can go on and on! Just as with our earthly weddings, we also have preparations getting us ready for the greatest of all weddings: the return of Christ. 

He tells us in His word the things to carry out until His return:

"Don't become like the people of this world. Instead, change the way you think. Then you will always be able to determine what God really wants- what is good, pleasing and perfect." Romans 12:2

"First of all, I encourage you to make petitions, prayers, intercessions and prayers of thanks for all people. For rulers, and for everyone who has authority over us. Pray for peaceful life always lived in an godly and reverent way. This is good and please God our Savior. He wants all people to be saved and to learn the truth." 1 Timothy 2:1-4

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Whatever happens, give thanks, because it is God's will in Christ Jesus that you do this." 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 

"I'm giving you a new commandment: Love each other in the same way that I have loved you. Everyone will know that you are my disciples because of your love for each other." John 13:34-35

"But I tell you this: Love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you. In this way you show that you are children of your Father in heaven." Matthew 5:44-45

"When Jesus came near, he spoke to them. He said 'All authority in Heaven and on earth has been given to me. So wherever you go, make disciples of all nations: Baptize them in the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Sprit. Teach them to do everything I have commanded you. And remember that I am always with you until the end of time'. " Matthew 28:18-20

And these are only some of the things...

          Major preparations, right? 

               A lot of work, huh?

 However, just as it was on that day you married the love of your life, all those preparations are more than worth it. Even more so with the greatest wedding of all time: when the Lord comes back for His church. The preparations and temporary pains of this world will pale in comparison to the joy we will have in eternity! 

So I ask you, what eternal preparations are you making? Let me warn you...these things are not easy. When you go to pray, there will be 100 other things that can grab your attention; when life gets hard, giving thanks isn't the easiest thing; loving, having a heart and taking care of the broken is hard to do when your bank account quickly brings you back to the reality of this world; loving your enemies is the biggest battle when they're constantly spitting venom and making life hard; being bold and making disciples isn't easy and can cost you anything from your popularity to your very life nowadays...

...but in the light of eternity, it all falls away. We have a King who is coming back for us (very soon, I believe...according the prophesies being fulfilled within the Bible).

What are you doing to make way for the King of Kings?

All my love~ Chelsea