Not all who profess themselves as brides are truly the brides of Christ. In fact, we can resolve this argument by understanding that what tells the bridegroom that you are a true bride is how much preparation you have made to meet Him. Oh, not how much preparation you are going to make when you see Him, if that is your case, He will only come to you suddenly. And you would believe with me that no man gets married to a woman suddenly—it only tells that you’re not a true bride. In Matthew 25, there were two categories of brides: the wise and the foolish. Do you know the response of the bridegroom to those who wanted to prepare themselves when He arrived? “I know you not.”
This is simple to understand; you must have known the person you are getting married to. Jesus is not coming for an emergency bride. What have you been doing to meet with Him? How will the bridegroom meet you? Do you know that every bride is expected to adorn themselves because they have hope that they’re soon going to get married? You don’t need to force her to prepare; she prepares herself because she has an understanding (revelation) that is personal to her and her bridegroom; this is what “knowing” is. It is an intimacy that has been unearthed over a period, which would culminate in a marriage union. No true bride begins preparation on the wedding day. The fact that you’re doing nothing now tells us that you’re not one of the true brides—you are not one of the wise virgins.
There is a need to get ready, to prepare ourselves entirely, so that when we appear before Him, we will be without wrinkles or spots. This is achievable through complete obedience. Friends, partial obedience is not obedience. Your obedience to the word of God must be complete if you are to be a true bride. The challenge, however, is that we do not take the word of God in its entirety. You want to sit on the fence; you want to do God and still do you. You cannot be taken when the bridegroom comes if this is your state when He comes. So, the Bible enjoins us in Hebrew 12:1
Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,
Brethren, if we do not have the heart to retain God’s word, we have no ears. There are basic things that we need to take note of as brides. The Bible calls them “sins that easily beset us,” like unforgiveness, envy, and strife. The word of God calls for our total allegiance. If we must be worthy of Christ at His coming, we must have a sincere heart of forgiveness. But also, there can be no forgiveness without repentance. So again, another sin that besets us is pride. Many have not obtained mercy from God because they have not humbled themselves to genuinely repent. If you need forgiveness, you must be willing to repent. Look at what the scripture says in Luke 17:3
Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.
Forgiveness is God’s but repentance is man’s; there are people who find it difficult to say they are sorry, there are people who take brotherhood for granted. Believe me, there are conditions the LORD JESUS should not meet you if you are part of the bride. We need to work out our salvation with fear, not taking the word of God for granted but submissively responding to God’s truth. Hear me, it is not the mystery you don’t know that will take you to hell, rather, it is the fundamental truth that you know but choose to ignore that will take you hell. The word of God should open your eyes to your unconfessed sins so that you can repent. There must be a conviction within us when we hear the word of God. Let us do like the prodigal son, who, after realizing himself, went in repentance to his father.
I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee, And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants.
The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart. Neither can you bribe God nor mock him. Don’t play brotherhood; when you sin against a brother, your wife, or your father, you have both sinned against them and God. This is the time to take the remedy. This is indeed the time to become wise. This is the time to work on ourselves for the bridegroom, so that when He comes, we will be worthy to go with Him. When the bridegroom comes, you must come out of yourself to meet Him.