There is a wedding coming in our family. It is all very exciting. Our family, and friends are all thinking and talking about it. The bridegroom is not here; he is coming for the wedding but at the present he is on the east coast. Although he is out of sight, he is certainly not out of mind for all the plans are being made with him in mind.

One store we visited which caters to weddings had a sign which said, ”If there is no bridegroom, there is no wedding.” It is certainly true. Right now it seems that there are a thousand and one things to do and everyone is busy attending to all the details which are so important so that all will be in readiness. All of this preparation causes our minds to be drawn to the absent bride- groom that is coming to receive his bride at the marriage supper of the Lamb. It is so important that we should all be busily engaged in our preparation for that great day.

Naturally, the bride is anxiously awaiting the arrival of the bridegroom and all her thoughts are centered on preparing to meet him when he arrives. Since Christ is our bridegroom, how excited and anxious we should be as we contem- plate his coming to make us his own. How are we spending our time while he is away? Are we engrossed in other things or are we getting ready for him? Normally, it is inconceivable that the bride could forget that the one she loves is coming soon.

What a glorious day is coming for us! Imagine the thrill that awaits us, to attend the marriage supper of the Lamb as the very bride of Christ! This is what we have to look forward to. To think that we are to be the bride of Christ! What an exalted position! How could we forget to prepare? Jeremiah asks the question, ”Can a maid forget her ornaments, or a bride her attire?” You can be sure what our bride will wear is very much in her thoughts. It is unthinkable that a bride could forget, yet God continues by saying ”yet my people have forgotten me days without number.” Have we forgotten? Is our coming marriage on our minds? Are we getting ready for the wedding? Our bridegroom is temporarily away but he is due back at any moment. Is ”out of sight, out of mind,” true for us?

We know that our bridegroom loves us and he has assured us that he will be faithful to us. He has said ”I will never leave thee nor forsake thee.” We know he is coming and when he comes we will never be separated from him again. The one we love is coming and if we really love him, we are busy preparing for his arrival. If we have allowed anything else to detract our attention away from him, it will then be evident that our love was less than it should have been, and when he comes he will not want to marry us and take us for his own.

Now is the time to prepare. Jesus told us a story about ten virgins and he warned us that five of them were foolish. They professed a love for the bride- groom but while he was away they did not get ready for him. How terribly foolish! When the bridegroom came they wanted to go to the marriage but they were refused. Right now is the time to be getting ready for the wedding. We should be preparing as a bride adorned for her husband. ”The Spirit and the bride say, Come, and let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely....Even so, come, Lord Jesus.”