Select Page

Way in the back of the closet, Dan’s I might add, lies a zipped up clothing bag. The other day, in hanging up his shirts, I was drawn to unzip the bag, take a peek & reminisce. For you see, inside the bag was my wedding gown. Hard to believe that in 2 short months, it will be thirty four years since I wore that gown on my wedding day. I pulled the train of my dress out from the bag & was surprised to note that the edges were soiled – dirty. I quickly reminded myself that I walked outside with it, trying to hold it all up but obviously failed at times. How much walking did I do really outside I questioned?

  • to get in & out of the church
  • to go to the photographer’s studio to take pictures
  • to go to the reception
  • to take pictures outside

Of course, there was all the ordinary walking one does being the bride but much of that was inside either the church or the reception. Yet my train & much of the hem of my gown was soiled.  And I had not ever noticed on that day.

Life is like that. It soils us in the ordinary, every day happenings that occur. Somehow though, we never see that the “train” of our clothes is soiled. We keep on living our days completely unaware that we are not as spotless as we were at one time. We need to stop & take a good look in order to see those things that our eyes have become accustomed.

I am a Bride of another sort as well.

I am part of the Church, the Bride of Christ.

Being an earthly bride has taught me something…..

  • Much the way, I prepared to be a bride, shopping for a gown & veil & shoes, I am to prepare myself as His Bride as well. “Let us rejoice & be glad & give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come & his bride has made herself ready.” (Revelation 19:7 NIV 84).
  • The time to prepare for the wedding day is not at the wedding itself. It is done before hand. It is in the days leading up to the wedding in which the bride prepares.

Scripture tells us:

He (Christ) gave up his life for her  (the church) to make her holy and clean, washed by the cleansing of God’s word. He did this to present her to himself as a glorious church without a spot or wrinkle or any other blemish. Instead, she will be holy and without fault.”

(Ephesians 5:25b-27 NLT).

Christ provides Himself as the very means by which I will be able to stand before the Father holy & without fault. My part, in preparing for that day, is to stay in His Word for it is His Word that cleanses me.

Yes, my earthly wedding gown has a train & hem that is soiled. But I rejoice in the FACT that one day I will, once again, be arrayed as a Bride. This time I will be without spots or wrinkles or any soil.

And The Bridegroom will rejoice & welcome me.

 

I linked with Faith Filled Friday & Joy .