Right now, in this very minute, God is finalizing all the details of the wedding that is going to take place very soon. It will be the most beautiful event ever in the heavenly realms. It is where Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, is eternally united with His bride, the Church.
“Let us be glad and rejoice, and let us give honor to Him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and His bride has prepared herself. She has been given the finest of pure white linen to wear.” (Rev. 19:7-8a)
As we know, God’s Church represents all those who have chosen to believe and receive God’s salvation; those who have become children of God, see John 1:12. Church is not any denomination nor a building. It is the work of Christ’s redemption on the cross. It is only through Him that anyone can come before the Sovereign God forgiven and cleansed from sin.
Also in this very minute, all believers are engaged to Christ. We are to be busy preparing ourselves for the wedding that is to come. Since we do not know when Jesus will be returning, we are called to live like it could happen right now! No one knows when Jesus will come for us personally. A day is approaching when Jesus will return to take up His whole Church at once.
So, what does this look like practically on a daily basis? Every believer needs to learn to live out the perfect engagement. What is the perfect engagement? It is when you are engaged (actively seeking and engrossing yourself in) the 3 persons of the Trinity. First, you come to believe God the Father. He will be the One who will judge you or acquit you. Second, you receive the work of Jesus Christ. You understand that your sins keep you separated from God and through the blood of Christ, you are now reunited with Him. You confess your sins and repent. Third, you learn to follow the Holy Spirit. He is the One who will lead you by convicting you when you turn your back on God. Unfortunately, your sinful nature leads you away from God daily and you need the Spirit’s convictions to help you to turn back around and face the Trinity once again. The Lord’s mercies are new every morning, see Lamentations 3:22-23. His faithfulness will continue to lead you to maturity in faith.
While engaging in all three persons, God is drawing you to Himself; His very presence.
In your engagement to the Trinity, it is never what you do, like going to church, reading the Bible, serving others, so God will respond to you. These things are essential to your faith journey, but they are never to take the place of abiding in His presence. They are to lead you to Him.
IT IS allowing the Lord to awaken your soul as He draws you in. And as you respond to His wake up call, He will lead you to Himself. Here is where the Trinity teaches you about abiding, resting, and finding peace. This happens when you seek God through the essentials mentioned above. Here is where God reveals just how real He is and just how much He loves you.
Most miss this important truth of walking by faith. They cannot get past the mental knowledge of God and allow Him to change their heart. They let their actions dictate their faith rather than trusting God and letting Him lead. You could say they push God to the back burner and live life their way as God watches from a distance, keeping the Spirit held back.
God didn’t send His Son to save you in this way. He is way more personal. You go to church to learn truth and to worship God Himself. You read the Bible to meet Jesus personally. The Spirit will teach you. You cannot sustain your faith without it. Jesus never departed from Gods Word. You love and serve others because of what the Trinity does for you first. Essentially, you let God change you from the inside out.
As Thanksgiving approaches, then Christmas, prepare yourself for the Lord first. There is much to be thankful for. You have the Living God who does not stop in pursuing you. He wants to have a deep, meaningful relationship with you. Go to Him and let Him reveal Himself in the most amazing ways.
Carol J German 