This past Sunday, I visited another church with my good friend, Pastor Letty. She preached a message about the church being the bride of Christ, and it really got me thinking about how we are supposed to be living while we wait for Jesus to return. As believers, we are the bride of Christ, and Jesus is our Bridegroom. He has gone to prepare a place for us, and one day He is coming back for His bride. But Pastor Letty reminded us that while we are waiting, we have a responsibility to keep our wedding gowns clean.
Of course, she wasn't talking about an actual wedding gown. She was talking about how we live our lives as followers of Jesus. Our gowns represent our readiness and faithfulness to Him. We are supposed to be preparing ourselves for His return, not getting comfortable with the things He has called us to turn away from. One thing she said that really stood out to me was that we shouldn't be flirting with the temptations of this world. I thought that was such a powerful way to put it because sometimes that's exactly what we do.
We might not intentionally set out to sin, but sometimes we entertain things we know we shouldn't. We make excuses for behaviors we know aren't pleasing to God. We convince ourselves that something isn't really that bad or that we're strong enough to be around temptation without giving in to it. But why would we want to see how close we can get to sin without crossing the line? Why would we want to entertain something that could pull us away from the One who gave His life to save us?
I've learned through my own life that temptation doesn't always look dangerous. Sometimes it looks familiar or comforting, especially when it's something we used to turn to during difficult times. I know what it's like to become comfortable with things that were destroying me. There were times when I knew the choices I was making weren't good for me, but I continued making them anyway. Looking back, I can see how easily something that once bothered our conscience can begin to feel normal when we allow it to remain in our lives.
In John 14:3 (NIV), Jesus tells His disciples, “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.”
I love that promise because it reminds me that this life isn't all there is. Jesus has prepared something far greater than anything this world could offer us. We spend so much time thinking about our homes, our responsibilities, and everything we want to accomplish here. But how often do we stop and think about the home Jesus is preparing for us? We can become so focused on the life we're living right now that we forget we're waiting for something eternal.
Being ready for Jesus doesn't mean we're expected to be perfect. If perfection were required, none of us would be ready. That's why we need Jesus in the first place. His sacrifice is what makes us clean, not our own ability to live without making mistakes. There is a difference, though, between struggling with sin and becoming comfortable living in it. We all fall short, but when we truly love Jesus, we should want to repent, ask for His forgiveness, and allow Him to continue changing us.
Keeping our gowns clean means being willing to examine our hearts and ask God to show us what needs to change. It means being honest with ourselves about the things we've allowed into our lives and being willing to surrender them to Him. Not because we're trying to earn His love, but because we already have it.
When I think about Jesus as our Bridegroom, I think about His faithfulness. He loved us enough to give His life for us. He didn't abandon us in our sin. He made a way for us to be forgiven, redeemed, and brought into a relationship with Him. And now we have the promise that He is coming back.
Toward the end of the service, Pastor Letty asked us to raise our hands and say, “Jesus, please come.” Those words were so simple, but they carried such a powerful meaning. We weren't just talking about the return of Jesus anymore. We were actually calling out for Him to come. And it made me think about what it really means to say those words.
When we say, “Jesus, please come,” are we truly looking forward to His return? Are we living like we believe He's coming back? Are we preparing our hearts, or have we become so comfortable in this world that we're not really thinking about eternity? Those are questions I think every believer should ask themselves, myself included.
It's easy to say that we love Jesus and believe He's coming back. But our lives should reflect what we believe. If we truly believe that one day we will stand before Him, shouldn't that change the way we live today? Not out of fear that we're going to lose His love every time we make a mistake, but out of love and gratitude for everything He's done for us.
I don't want my relationship with Jesus to become something I only think about on Sundays. I want to grow closer to Him every day and allow Him to continue working in the areas of my life that still need changing. Sometimes that means letting go of things I've held on to for years, but I've learned that when God asks us to surrender something, it's because He knows what's best for us.
Another thing this message reminded me of is that we don't know when Jesus will return. The Bible tells us that we don't know the day or the hour. That means being ready isn't something we should keep putting off until tomorrow. Every day we're given is another opportunity to draw closer to Him and live with the expectation of His return.
And keeping our gowns clean isn't something we accomplish through our own strength. We need the Holy Spirit to guide us and help us recognize the things that don't belong in our lives. We need God's Word to remind us of His truth. And when we stumble, we need to remember that we can come to Jesus. We don't have to hide from Him in shame. We can confess our sins, receive His forgiveness, and continue walking with Him.
I left that service thinking about how much I want my life to reflect my love for Jesus. Not just in the things I say, but in the choices I make when nobody else is watching. In the way I treat people and in my willingness to follow Him even when it's difficult.
One day, Jesus will return for His bride. Until then, I want to keep growing, keep surrendering, and keep my heart prepared. I want to live with the expectation that my Bridegroom is coming back.
And when I raise my hands and say, “Jesus, please come,” I want those words to be more than something I say during a church service. I want them to reflect the way I'm choosing to live my life.
Because this world is not my forever home, and I'm not waiting for just anyone. I'm waiting for Jesus. And until He comes, I want to keep my gown clean.