Prepared
Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2
I have been to a lot of weddings over the years, and I recognize that a wedding takes much planning. It’s not just one person that gets everything ready for the big day, it often takes a village to bring it all together. Sure, the bride and her family do a lot of the preparations for the day of the wedding and the wedding party always gets involved. Then the groom and his side of the family have things to they are working on too. Not to mention the people who are hired for the ceremony to make it a perfect day. The wedding planner, venue, caterer, photographer, videographer and the minister that performs the nuptials, just to name a few. Basically, it becomes an all hands on deck project. The entire process is not just an amount of time spent planning. The event brings the people involved into deeper relationships as they help the bride and groom prepare for their special day. Even new friendships are made as they connect with people that become a part of the process. Overall, the wedding party itself is composed of people who have agreed to stand up for the couple at the wedding, but also to come along side them to walk through the planning leading up to the union to help in any way needed.
In today’s reading, the apostle John saw a new heaven and a new earth. What we see and live in today will pass away. The verse says that John saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, that descends down from heaven, has been prepared as a bride perfected for her husband. As I thought about this picture, I remembered the things that go into planning a wedding and the preparations that go into that day. The bride alone will begin preparing for the day even months in advance by working on fitness, getting a tan, selecting the perfect dress and colors for the bridesmaids. On the day of the wedding, she makes sure that her hair, makeup and nails are done to perfection so that when her groom sees her, she is a beautiful as she can possibly be. It is the most important day of her life up to that point and the day that she has prepared herself and the surroundings to be as elegant and exquisite as possible.
The picture that John saw is no different. All of heaven has joined together to prepare this fabulous city, the new Jerusalem for the coming day it is revealed to God’s people. When God created the world, we live in today, He spoke it, by faith, into existence. However, the new Jerusalem has been “prepared”, meaning there was a lot involved in getting it ready. It is all hands on deck, once again, getting ready for this big day. I love how John phrases what he saw: “I saw the holy city coming down out of heaven.” It’s as if he was seeing a great processional as the city descends to earth from heaven. John said the city was prepared as or like a bride. But the city is not the bride, it is a home that has been prepared for those who have overcome. In fact, down in verse seven of the passage, God, Himself, said “I will be their God and they will be my people.” This great day will be the day that we are united once and for all with our Lord for all eternity.
So, today I want to encourage you to consider what a great day it will be when we see the new Jerusalem coming down from heaven. Let this image be an inspiration to all your activities in this world. Make a decision that you will be an overcomer and then bring the helper, God’s Spirit along with you to carry you through the struggles in life. Don’t let the enemy rob you by procrastinating the decision to walk with God. Instead, begin preparations for the big day when you will meet Him face to face, right now. Start making His plan and agenda your number one priority and live your life walking on His path of righteousness instead of your own.
Today’s scripture reading: Revelation 21:1-8
1 Now I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away. Also there was no more sea.
2 Then I, John, saw the holy city, New Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.
3 And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God.
4 And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.”
5 Then He who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.”
6 And He said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. I will give of the fountain of the water of life freely to him who thirsts.
7 He who overcomes shall inherit all things, and I will be his God and he shall be My son.
8 But the cowardly, unbelieving, abominable, murderers, sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars shall have their part in the lake which burns with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.”
The Daily Dose 