Revelation 21:1-2 English Standard Version

The New Heaven and the New Earth

¹ Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. ² And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband.

Many will conceptualize that being the bride of Christ is being married to Christ. This is a misunderstanding of the historical aspect of Jewish weddings. The example set before us in those customs identifies how God prepares for the wedding feast. We have not come to the wedding, nor the wedding feast. We are being prepared to become the worthy bride where our gown will be spotless white. As long as we live, we are still being prepared and we have not arrived yet.

Matthew 1:18-20 English Standard Version

The Birth of Jesus Christ

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ And her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary as your wife, for that which is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit.

A woman betrothed is called a bride but is not called wife until after the wedding.  Jewish custom was such that the father of the groom would decide when the son had sufficiently prepared a home for his betrothed. Jesus in like fashion is waiting on the Father to say when all the preparations are ready for the wedding.

John 14:3 English Standard Version (ESV) And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

Matthew 10:37 English Standard Version (ESV) Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.

Understand that the lord has not said anything about hating family members. Being worthy of Christ is about allegiances.

Matthew 19:17-20 English Standard Version

¹⁷ And he said to him, “Why do you ask me about what is good? There is only one who is good. If you would enter life, keep the commandments.” ¹⁸ He said to him, “Which ones?” And Jesus said, “You shall not murder, You shall not commit adultery, You shall not steal, You shall not bear false witness, ¹⁹ Honor your father and mother, and, You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” ²⁰ The young man said to him, “All these I have kept. What do I still lack?”

Note here that our Lord lists things for which this young man can answer positively. He believes he has done all this, yet knows in his heart it isn’t enough. Which of the Ten Commandments did Jesus leave out?

Matthew 19:21-22 English Standard Version

²¹ Jesus said to him, “If you would be perfect, go, sell what you possess and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.” ²² When the young man heard this he went away sorrowful, for he had great possessions.

Jesus left out the command, you shall have no other gods before me.

The young man loved possessions more than God.

There will be times in our lives when our choices are put into question. We will become uneasy within ourselves because we know in our hearts that we have not loved Christ as He loves us. In those moments we may find ourselves asking the Lord what we still lack.

Why is worthiness an issue in us?