It stands to reason that, having responded to the love of God and having accepted His free gift of salvation and eternal life through Jesus, we have to be in a relationship with Him in order to become a reliable witness, a friend, and part of the bride of Christ.
When two people become involved in a relationship, during the normal course of events, they will get to know one another, find out as much as possible about each other, daily spend time together, talk, and generally enjoy one another's company. Writing love letters or poems, even love songs, is quite normal during the courtship and as the relationship grows, they will also be spending time with each other's friends and relatives, getting to know and care about them also.
"And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking
the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one
another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching." Heb. 10: 25.
In time, if they are serious about the relationship and each other, their dreams about becoming engaged - setting themselves apart exclusively for each other - getting married and setting up home together will become reality.
During the time when Jesus walked amongst men in the flesh, the courting customs of the Jewish people were as follow:
The father of the prospective bridegroom, or the prospective bridegroom himself, would identify the maiden of the son's affection. He would then send a friend or relative to speak to the maiden's family on his behalf, making clear his intentions and discussing the price or "lobola" - as it is known in African cultures - to be paid by the bridegroom.
"In those days John the Baptist came preaching...For this is he who was spoken of by
the prophet Isaiah, saying: "the voice of one crying in the wilderness; prepare the way
of the Lord; make His paths straight." Matt. 3:1-3
The son would then visit the bride's family, and they would enjoy a feast and all would drink wine from a communal cup - the cup of betrothal - following which the bridegroom would pay the agreed price determined by the father of the bride.
"Then He (Jesus) took the cup, and when He had given thanks He gave it to them,
and they all drank from it. And He said to them..."This is my blood of the new
covenant, which is shed for many. Assuredly, I say to you, I will no longer drink
of the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God." "
Mark 14:23-25
"And when Jesus had cried out with a loud voice, He said: "Father, into Your
hands I commit My spirit." Having said this, He breathed His last. Luke 23:46
What a price was required to be paid for the bride of Christ! After the price had been paid in full the betrothed bridegroom would return to his father's house.
"Then Jesus said to them, "I shall be with you a little while longer, and then I go
to Him who sent Me." John 7:33
"So then, after the Lord had spoken to them, He was received up into heaven, and
sat down at the right hand of God." Mark 16:19
The reason the bridegroom would return to his father's house was to prepare a home for himself and his bride:
"In my Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you.
I go to prepare a place for you." John 14:2
When the house had been completed, the bridegroom would return to fetch his bride.
"And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to
Myself, that where I am, there you may be also." John 14:3
But the bridegroom cannot fetch his bride until his father is happy and satisfied that the house is complete and fit for his new bride.
"But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the
Son, but only the Father." Mark 13:32
While the bridegroom is away, the bride prepares herself. She wears a veil, or in modern day culture, an engagement right, so that the world can see that she is already spoken for. This veil is symbolic of the sanctification of the body of Christ on earth.
"...because it is written: "Be ye holy, for I am holy." " 1 Pet. 1:16
We know that the word 'holy' means 'set apart'.
She is to have a light burning in her room right through the night, every night, so as to be ready when the bridegroom comes. When the bridegroom fetches his bride, he comes during the dark of night and he brings along many of his friends, and they make a big joyful noise to alert the bride and her family that he is on his way and to be ready to meet him halfway.
"Then they wll see the son of Man coming in the clouds with great power and
glory. And then He will send His angels, and gather together His elect from the
four winds, from the farthest part of earth to the farthest part of heaven."
Mark 13:26-27
Jesus Himself tells us beautifully about His return to earth in the parable documented in Matt. 25: 1-13:
"Then the Kingdom of Heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their
lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. Now five of them were wise, and
five were foolish. Those who were foolish took their lamps and took no oil with
them, but the wise took oil in their vessels with their lamps. But while the
bridegroom was delayed, they all slumbered and slept. "And at midnight a cry
was heard: "Behold the bridegroom is coming; go out to meet him!" Then all
those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise,
"Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out." But the wise answered,
saying: "No, lest there should not be enough for us and you, but go rather to
those who sell, and buy for yourselves." And while they went in with him to the
wedding; and the door was shut. ...watch therefore, for you know neither the
day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming."
It is very clear from the Scriptures above that God the Son is very serious about His love affair with us. Now, perhaps some of us we need to ask ourselves some questions:
Have we accepted Christ as our Saviour? Are we in a constant relationship with the Lord? Are we maintaining, nurturing, this relationship? Are we set apart as His bride? Are we ready for the wedding?
Are our lamps burning? Do we have enough oil to see us through to the event?
Thank You, Lord, that you want to enter into a loving, marital relationship with each one of us. Thank You that You warn us and give us time to prepare ourselves to be ready, less we find the door shut in our faces.
No comments:
Post a Comment