Preparing You to Be the Bride of Christ ― Part 3
One of the most romantic gestures among newly-weds is the groom carrying his bride over the threshold into their ‘new’ home—the place prepared for them to live together.
The symbolism of this cavalier gesture is not just the happiness of the new couple, but the sense of pride, care, tenderness and responsibility the husband conveys in lifting and carrying his wife into the home where they’ll create memories, establish customs and build a life together.
In the same way, Christ has a prepared place that he delights to share with us—his bride.
Jesus is the bridegroom for all Christians and He has generously prepared a mansion for each one of us. What a God we serve! (Rev. 19.6,7).
When you say “yes” to Christ, he assures you of a life and home with him.
“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. 2 My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am” (John 14:1-3).
As the bride of Christ, where you will live is an amazing city. Its mansions are indescribable. The atmosphere of your new home can only be described as Glory. Apostle John tried to describe in Revelation 21 what he saw when God took him on a tour of heaven.
- Its brilliance. “It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal” (vs.11).
- Its walls. “The wall was made of jasper” (vs.18).
- The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone such as jasper, sapphire, emerald, onyx, ruby, chrysolite, beryl, topaz, turquoise, jacinth, and amethyst (vs. 19,20).
- It gates and street. “There are 12 gates made of a single pearl, and the street is of gold as pure as transparent glass” (vs. 21).
- There is not temple or Church. “I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple” (vs. 22).
- No electricity, sun, or moon. “The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp” (vs. 23).
- Nations, people groups, all believers are glorious and brilliant with splendor. “The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it” (vs. 24).
- You will bring glory to heaven. “The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it” (vs. 26).
Christ has a turnkey home waiting for you, his bride! No interior decorator needed!
How have you been preparing to be a bride of Christ? Email chayil@patfrancis.org to share your story with us.
