Are You Ready for the Bridegroom?
Matthew 25:1 “Then the kingdom of heaven will be comparable to ten virgins, who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish, and five were prudent. 3 For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, 4 but the prudent took oil in flasks along with their lamps. 5 Now while the bridegroom was delaying, they all got drowsy and began to sleep. 6 But at midnight there was a shout, ‘Behold, the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ 7 Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish said to the prudent, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ 9 But the prudent answered, ‘No, there will not be enough for us and you too; go instead to the dealers and buy some for yourselves.’ 10 And while they were going away to make the purchase, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the wedding feast; and the door was shut. 11 Later the other virgins also came, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open up for us.’ 12 But he answered, ‘Truly I say to you, I do not know you.’ 13 Be on the alert then, for you do not know the day nor the hour.
Scripture refers to Christ as the Bridegroom and the Church as His bride. In Ephesians, He speaks of a church “without spot or blemish” that will be presented to Him. A pretty lofty goal, huh? I don’t know about you, but I find I have many spots and blemishes, and I’m not talking about a skin condition. The scripture I began with today speaks of being prepared for His return. Verse 5 says that when the bridegroom delays, they got drowsy and began to sleep. I believe that is a great picture of the church. We have been waiting for Jesus’ return for 2000 years! In my book, that’s a delay!
So how can we be prepared for Him to come? It begins with us understanding His Love for us.
There are many "falling in love" scenarios. Some fall in love at first sight & some after an arranged marriage. In some instances, the man falls in love with the woman and pursues her, while in others, it is the woman who first falls in love with the man and then pursues him. And then there is the man who is chased the woman until she caught him or vice versa.
When it comes to Christ’s love affair with His bride, it is clear who took the initiative. It was Christ. He pursued us; we didn’t pursue Him. "We love Him because He first loved us." -1 John 4:19
"The Word of God is a history of God’s dealings with man. It is not a book at all about how much man loves God, but how God amazingly and against all human reasoning loves rebellious man. We often wonder as we read the Old Testament how people could be so sinful, stiff-necked and rebellious. The amazing thing is not that man is rebellious, but that God loves the rebel. We come to the New Testament, and we find this same love demonstrating itself in the central event in history. Both Jews and Gentiles rejected the Lord of glory by crucifying Him on the cross. And in man’s greatest rejection of God, we find God’s greatest and strongest love for man. ’Father forgive them for they know not what they do!’ cried the Lord from the cross. ’It is finished!’ He said. What was finished? Christ had finished His work of opening the door of God’s love to mankind. Justice was finished. Christ drank every drop from the cup of God’s wrath. God’s anger against man’s sin was satisfied. Even in man’s greatest hatred of God, we find God pursuing after man in the greatest manner." - Pastor Matt Black
Christ’s love for His church is such that He willingly gave Himself for our sake. And He did so, as we’ve already pointed out, despite our complete and total disinterest in Him. The cross tells us at least two things about Christ’s love for us:
Christ’s love is unconditional. - But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. - Romans 5:8
He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world. - 1 John 2:2
"Grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us more -no amount of spiritual calisthenics and renunciations, no amount of knowledge gained from seminaries, no amount of crusading on behalf of righteous causes. And grace means there is nothing we can do to make God love us less—no amount of racism or pride or pornography or adultery or even murder. Grace means that God already loves us as much an infinite God can possibly love." - Phillip Yancey - "What’s So Amazing About Grace"
Christ’s love is intentional. If, when we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life! - Romans 5:10
Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends. - John 15:13
When a couple comes together in marriage, they do so having made the choice to "lay down their lives" for one another. Up until that point, he has lived his life and she has lived hers, but now they are choosing to live THEIR life, together. To do that, they lay down their individual lives so that they might give themselves to one another in their life together. They make this commitment, because they have come to the conviction that the life they might share together is far better than a life they might live on their own.
This is why Jesus gave Himself for us. The life we can share together with Him is far better than the life we might live on our own. And if the church, you and me, are going to be the church we ought to be, then we must share our Savior’s conviction.
Jesus sacrifice is the only way for us to become that bride without spot or blemish. Ephesians says He gave Himself up to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. - Ephesians 5:26
Christ has given Himself for us so that we might be changed eternally and internally. But he has also given Himself to us so that we might be changed externally! Through His presence in our lives by His Spirit and the guidance provided by His Word, He can change us from the inside out!
Presently, we, who have been transformed internally are awaiting the day when we will be transformed eternally! But like a bride anticipating her wedding day seeks to be as prepared as she can possibly be for that day when it comes, we, through applying God’s Word to our lives should be seeking to be as prepared for life in Christ’s eternal presence as we can possibly be by allowing Christ to make a difference externally.
The Message bible puts it this way: But friends, that’s exactly who we are: children of God. And that’s only the beginning (We’ve been changed internally). Who knows how we’ll end up! What we know is that when Christ is openly revealed, we’ll see him - and in seeing him, become like him (We’ll be changed eternally). All of us who look forward to his Coming stay ready, with the glistening purity of Jesus’ life as a model for our own (We’re being changed externally). -1 John 3:2-3
In any healthy marriage relationship, the couple grows in their understanding and awareness of one another.
Have you ever noticed how couples who have been married for some time, just seem to "go together?" Even if you’ve just met them, once you’re introduced, you look at the couple and say to yourself, "Yep. They go together alright." You and I need to endeavor to spend enough time with the Lord that when people hear that we belong to Him, they might be able to look at us and say, "Yep. They go together alright."
I don’t know about you, but I want to make sure my Lamp is full. Scripture tells us For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. We must be prepared -. 1 Thes 5
Take comfort in knowing that if you seek Him, you will find Him, because He is waiting for you! In fact, He is pursuing you! Read what is written in the book of Revelation about that day!
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. - Revelation 19:6-8
Our fine linen is our righteous acts! Our acts do not save us, but our salvation spurs us to those acts! Christ will one day return for a church that has been transformed by His presence and power, not just internally, but externally. I hope you begin that transformation today by recognizing His Presence and Power in your life!
Blessings from Pastor Dennis and the Spring of Life Community Church Family Follow us online at www.springoflifecommunitychurch.com or on Facebook at “Spring of Life Community Church – Mayville, MI”