“Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb.” (Rev. 21:9 NIV)

Thousands of years ago, the Hebrews observed a betrothal of marriage custom that consisted of twelve steps. Much of this custom is still observed today.

According to the custom, a Hebrew father almost always chose the woman to be betrothed to his son. Only rarely did the parents allow their children to make their own choices.

After all the betrothal steps had been completed, the Law legally bound the man and woman together and regarded them as husband and wife, as one entity. Though considered married, the covenant forbade them to live together physically.

Most betrothal periods lasted about one year, as the bridegroom would leave to build a home for his bride. Before he departed to begin his project, the bridegroom made a statement to his bride: “I go to prepare a place for you; if I go, I will return again unto you.”

During the time of separation, the couple relied on a communicator or intermediary who acted as the go-between, a friend of the bridegroom or best man, to handle all communications between them.

Throughout their relationship, they were entirely devoted to one another, even though distance separated them.

When the bridegroom was finished with the home, he still could not leave to snatch away his bride. He never knew the day or hour for he had to wait until his father gave his approval and said it was time to go. Then, the bridegroom would gather his friends and go get his bride, arriving around midnight, unannounced. The bride never knew the day nor the hour of his arrival and had to be ready at all times.

Their commitment to each other was based on covenant. Though on rare occasions, a marriage was severed, covenant was a serious relationship that could never be broken.

The steps in this ancient betrothal process represent our relationship with Christ. Throughout the Bible, God relates to His people in a closeness of companionship so intimate that He compares it to a marriage relationship. In the book of Isaiah, He said, “For your Maker is your Husband.” (Is. 54:5 NKJV)

As the father, in the tradition, arranged the marriage for his son, God the Father arranged the marriage between His Son and the church as the bride.

Just as the Hebrew couple was considered as one unit, the same truth exists when believers accept Christ’s proposal, receiving Him as their Savior, for they become a part “of His body, of His flesh and of His bones,” (Eph. 5:30b NKJV) as a divine oneness.

As Paul said, “This is a great mystery, but I speak concerning Christ and the church.” (Eph. 5:32 NKJV) The mystery, the secret? “For this is the secret: Christ lives in you.” (Col. 1:27b NLT)

Even though the Father has chosen her, the bride comes of her own free will, accepting the Bridegroom’s proposal and choosing to be betrothed to Christ - or not. If she accepts and says, “I do,” she is, as Paul said, “‘married,’ so to speak, to the One Who rose from the dead.” (Rom. 7:4b TLB)

When Christ died, He departed as the heavenly Bridegroom to prepare a dwelling place for His precious bride. On the night before His crucifixion, Jesus essentially spoke the bridegroom’s statement to the disciples, “I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.” (John 14:2b-3 NKJV)

In His absence, He sent His go-between, His Holy Spirit, to communicate His messages of love to His beloved bride.

The Son knows not the day nor the hour of His return, as only the Father knows the time for the Son’s return for His precious Bride. As Jesus said, “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.” (Matt. 24:36 NKJV)

Neither does the Church Bride know the day nor the hour of her Beloved Bridegroom’s return for her, so she must be prepared at all times.

But is she ready? Are you ready? If you knew tomorrow was your last day on earth, would it affect your behavior today? Are you, as they say, good to go?

If Jesus died that His bride might be without spot or wrinkle or any other defect, then, as part of the bride, how are you dressed? When the heavenly Bridegroom arrives, will you be dressed in an old rag, spotted with worldly stains? Or will you be “a bride beautifully dressed for her husband” (Rev. 21:2b NIV) in a spotless gown of holiness?

The Bridegroom is coming soon for His bride. Have you made sure that you are in a holy covenant of betrothal with Him? While He’s away, are you totally devoted to Him?

Whenever anyone hears the message of the gospel, it is a precious wooing, a gracious invitation from God to His covenant of salvation and all the provisions of the Kingdom, which has been prepared for all those who accept.

How you respond to His wooing determines the destination of your eternal home. Be sure of your decision, for you are only one heartbeat away from the eternal resting place of your choice. Be as the good soil in the Parable of the Sower, for it “represents those who hear and accept God’s message.” (Mark 4:20 NLT)

His plea “includes you, called of Jesus Christ and invited [as you are] to belong to Him.” (Rom. 1:6 Amp)

* Have you said “No thanks” to the Bridegroom’s gracious proposal?
* Have you said “Yes” but are unsure you will be part of His snatching away?

If you have said “No” or you are unsure, then He is inviting you now. To be sure. Your time is limited. Scripture says, “Now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation,” and “Right now God is ready to welcome you. Today He is ready to save you.” (2 Cor. 6:2 NKJV, TLB)

Peter pleads with you, “So, friends, confirm God’s invitation to you, His choice of you. Don’t put it off; do it now. Do this, and you’ll have your life on a firm footing, the streets paved and the way wide open into the eternal kingdom of our Master and Savior, Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 1:10-11 Msg)

Gently, He calls to you, “Come and follow Me.” (Matt. 19:21b KJV)

What is your answer to His proposal?