“The marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife hath made herself ready.”―Rev. 19:7.
IT is blessed to find that the testimony of God in the Scriptures, concerning our standing in His presence, is to the finished work of Christ. “Ye are complete in Him.” (Col. 2) The Son of God has sanctified us with His own blood, and made us nigh to God, “having obtained eternal redemption for us.” It is, therefore, by grace, and not in any degree by creature-merit, that every believer is fitted for the presence of God, and will be presented before Him faultless with exceeding joy, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing. “Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth.” (Rom. 10:4.)
But there is another point treated of in this portion of the word of God, which is the practically preparing ourselves for the marriage supper; purifying ourselves, that we may “not be ashamed before Him at His coming;” cleansing our hearts and ways, and being diligent in every good work, that “we may be found of Him in peace, without spot and blameless;” separating from everything which we know will not be “found unto praise, and honor, and glory, at the appearing of our Lord Jesus.” It is most blessedly true that then will be “granted” to the bride of the Lamb, as a substantial reality, what is now imputed to faith, “the righteousness of God.” “To her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” It was a grant, because it is all of grace. But we are also told that she had “made herself ready.” She expected the marriage, and therefore prepared for it. We must know that our sine are put away by the sacrifice of Christ, and that God has given us a standing of perfectness in Christ risen and glorified, thus taking us out of our old Adam standing of ruin and guilt, delivering us from sin and curse, the law and death, and making us joint-heirs with Christ, so as to leave no question whatever between God and our own souls, before we can truly be said to be making ourselves ready for the marriage. When we are brought to see that the purging of sin, and justification, is not our work, but the work of God in Christ; and that we are brought into all this blessing by faith in Jesus, we can give glory to God, and worship, knowing that He that has called us, and fitted us for glory in Christ, is also preparing a place in glory for us by Christ, and will also consummate our everlasting union with Him, and accordingly we go forth to meet the Bridegroom. But if there be misgivings in the soul about forgiveness of sins, and standing in the perfection of Christ, how can there be a making ready for the marriage? God has given us His word, in which He plainly states, that He has forgiven sins, justified from all things, and made complete in Christ every believer in Jesus; and this is enough. We believe God means what He says; see the accomplishment of this wondrous grace in the death and resurrection of His beloved Son; and whatever men or devils may say, or circumstances may be, we rely on the faithfulness of God; and thus feeling we are on unquestionable ground, rejoice in hope of glory, and make ready for the marriage supper of the Lamb. And, beloved, what is the present attitude of our souls? Has the lope of the Lord’s return to take us unto Himself taken root in our hearts? Do our ways and conversation show that we are making ready for the marriage? The knowledge of it, merely as a doctrine, will have no power on our daily walk; but if we really feel the coming of our Great God and Saviour to be the hope of our souls, we shall set little value, on present things, counting them vain and perishing. The “better and enduring substance” brought so very near to faith and hope, constrains us to disentangle ourselves from associations and circumstances which we are assured will not bear the all-searching light of that day. And this process will go on; for as knowledge of God and of ourselves increases, so will fresh discoveries be made of the deceitfulness of our hearts, and our consciences will heed the call for confession and cleansing in the presence of God. The lamp needs frequent trimming, as well as repeated renewing’s of oil, in order to shine brightly; and we know that our Lord would have our loins girded about, and our lights burning, while He assures our hearts that “the night is far spent, the day is at hand.” Beloved, how does this assurance affect us?
Let us meditate much on the majesty and glory of our adorable Emmanuel, and on God’s estimate of His death; let us often feed on His broken body and shed blood; let our spirits more abundantly catch the fervent feelings of His heart now in the presence of God for us; let us continually think upon the cost and glory of our eternal redemption, and we shall find an earnest desire and power springing up in our hearts, to make ourselves ready for the marriage.