PREPARATION FOR THE MARRIAGE SUPPER OF THE LAMB
by Judith A. Brumbaugh|
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Please let me in to the Marriage Supper |
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What anticipation! Is your name on the guest list? Were you invited to your friend's party? Such questions may or may not be of importance to you; however, if it were a matter of life or death if your name were included on a guest list, most of us would probably be quite attentive! Actually everyone should be preparing to make certain that his/her name is on at least one list: the Book of Life, where everyone's name is listed who is abiding in God's principles. Jesus has gone to prepare a place for those of us who are listed in His Book of Life. “In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. 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 unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.” (John 14:2,3) However, to live there, we have to be “clothed in His righteousness.” Being so clothed enables us to redeem the price Jesus Christ paid with His blood on the cross for the sins from which we repent. This is our “ticket” to this event, the Marriage Supper of the Lamb, which no man can fully understand, but all who know Jesus Christ want to attend: "Then said they unto him, Where is thy Father? Jesus answered, Ye neither know me, nor my Father: if ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also." (John 8:19)
As we study the Word, we find that the only requirement to be written in the Book of Life is that we follow God's plan for living. We are not to change his “blueprint” for life, but to follow what He has recorded through His Scriptures, the Holy Bible.
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The key is to diligently study and search the Scriptures. |
Many of God’s “writings” seem difficult for some to comprehend, but the key is to diligently study and search the Scriptures. Understanding WILL come FROM what God has written. “And we know that the Son of God is come, and hath given us an understanding, that we may know him that is true, and we are in him that is true, even in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God, and eternal life.” (I John 5:20)
“But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” (Hebrews 11:6) How does He reward us? Part of that reward is taking upon ourselves discernment through which we gain immunity to deception. Deception is the major weapon of Satan. Eve was deceived, many of the Israelites were deceived, multitudes of Christians are being deceived today.
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Part of that reward is taking upon ourselves discernment through which we gain immunity to deception. |
“But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.” (II Peter 2:1-3)
THERE ARE TWO TYPES OF "MEALS"
There are two types of “meals” - both free, but with different price tags; or, as we say in economics, different opportunity costs. Those who choose to reject God’s standards, those who compromise, those who become too busy in life to give a portion of each day to God will have difficulty in preparing themselves to enter the gate that leads to the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. Instead, they become ensnared by deception, often called the cares of this world. “Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.” (Matthew 7:13,14)
This is what happened to a “man of God” as recorded in the Old Testament. He served God mightily for many years. God wrought incredible miracles through him. He quoted the Word and lived by it. But, he let himself be caught in a web of deception. He listened to a prophet who brought a message that sounded good but did not line up with the Word. By listening, he become entangled in a lie which brought death to him. This story is found in 1 Kings 13. See the article, The Price of a Free Dinner.
We, likewise, can be caught in a web of deception. Not only can our life-time efforts be utilized by the enemy, but our name can be removed from the Book of Life. That’s why we must, in all things, keep close to the LORD by daily studying His Word. It must be so engrafted that we will recognize false teachings, and we will fear the LORD enough that we will not compromise.
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