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Revelation 22:20

Overcome with Love by Cheryl

“When their eyes met, they were both overcome with love that they began running towards each other. The whole episode happened in slow motion, just as in movies. When they reached each other in the middle of the parking lot, he picked her up and they twirled around, her legs bent and flying through the air. He set her down and they kissed.”

Wow! Sounds romantic, right? That is an excerpt from a true story I wrote some years ago of how my husband and I met. There is a lot more to the made-for-tv-movie story! I shared this to set the scene for two people falling in love that leads right into a wedding.

I think all women remember their wedding day well. So much care is taken in preparing for the wedding, from choosing the right bridal dress, bridesmaid’s dresses, and tuxes, to the cake and decorations. The wedding day brings time and effort for perfect hair, nails, makeup, and every detail to transform the bride into a flawless presentation for her man. The groom and the groomsmen line up at the front of the church and anxiously await the doors to open for that first visible eyes-on of the bride. The whole room turns to gasp at absolutely pure beauty before them. 

It is not just a scene from fairy tales. It is a scene that happens every day somewhere around the world. It is a scene everyone can relate to. It is a scene from a memory of our own wedding residing in the head. We can identify with the two romantic lovebirds who are anxious to see each other.

God in His Word uses this bride and groom overcome with love as an imagery in many Bible verses. Is it because we can identify with it? The Church is the bride of Christ, and Jesus is the groom. With the romantic scene set, Christ’s sacrifices Himself to save His Bride and is resurrected from the dead three days later so that nothing can separate them, not even sin. Now that is true selfless love!

The Church is not a building. The Church is the people. We, the believers, are the Church. We prepare ourselves to be pure beauty before the groom, Jesus Christ. Yet it is what Christ has done for us on the cross that makes us pure, white, and clean from all sin. 

The song and lyrics of “Even So Come” by Chris Tomlin are a reference toRevelations 22:20, “He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.” The words “even so come” are only found in the King James version. On the graphic I created, I enjoyed reading various versions of this scripture to bring even more feeling to these words. This verse is a conversation between Christ and his Bride. 

During advent, we focus on preparing for the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Sometimes my mind says, “but ‘no,’ that would mean my body will die and I will be separated from my loved ones and not get to finish doing all the things I want to do on this earth.” My mind wants to refuse to be filled with excited anticipation about praying for His coming again. This is what the devil wants us to think tapping into our human nature. We must shed those thoughts and train our mind with a new attitude, looking forward to our spiritual body and our new bodies with Christ when Christ comes again. How perfect and wonderful it will be at that time far beyond what we can imagine in our human brains. 

This is how we prepare, “But stay awake at all times, praying that you may have strength to escape all these things that are going to take place, and to stand before the Son of Man” Luke 21:36.

Being prepared is simple. Simply believe and continue a relationship with Jesus Christ. Faith is a gift. It is nothing we do. Christ himself has done and continues to do it all, so stop stressing about what you need to do to be prepared for His second coming and just enjoy the relationship and love. Keep in mind the knowledge that He is coming again and pray with anticipation, “even so come!”

Just a few verses up in Revelations 22:17 we read, “The Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let the one who hears say, “Come!” Let the one who is thirsty come; and let the one who wishes take the free gift of the water of life.” This verse brings in the Trinity as the groom by referencing the “Spirit.” The bride and the groom are both inviting others who “hear” to “come” to accept the free gift of eternal life. We see a reference to Romans 10:17 in that “faith comes by hearing” which gives us the example that after we have become a believer, being part of the Church, the Bride of Christ, we are to invite others standing together with Christ. I like the image of Christ beside me doing what He does as my mouth speaks and testifies to others.

THE LYRICS: "All Of Creation (Even So Come)" to inspire your art and move your soul:

All of creation; All of the earth; Make straight a highway; A path for the Lord, Jesus is coming soon.

Call back the sinner; Wake up the saint; Let every nation; Shout of Your fame; Jesus is coming soon.

Like a bride; Waiting for her groom; We'll be a church; Ready for You; Every heart longing for our King; We sing…; Even so come; Lord Jesus come.

There will be justice; All will be new; Your name forever; Faithful and true; Jesus is coming soon.

So we wait; We wait for You; God we wait; You're coming soon.

Even So Come by Chris Tomlin (Youtube link)

ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE

There are many verses that reference the bride of Christ, so much so that I cannot say it any better than God’s Word. Therefore, I am sharing some additional verses I collected while studying to prepare this devotion. 

And I will betroth you to me forever. I will betroth you to me in righteousness and in justice, in steadfast love and in mercy. I will betroth you to me in faithfulness. And you shall know the Lord. Hosea 2:19, 20

For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of hosts is his name; and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer, the God of the whole earth he is called. Isaiah 54:5

For as a young man marries a young woman, so shall your sons marry you, and as the Bridegroom rejoices over the bride, so shall your God rejoice over you. Isaiah 62:5 

Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, These are the true words of God.” Revelation 19:7-9

And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. Revelation 21:2