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About 2,000 years ago Jesus was born and He walked on this earth.  John Piper, the author of “Desiring God”, said of Jesus’ first coming as His coming to pay a dowry with His own precious blood.  However, the Lord Jesus Christ will come a second time to take and marry His Bride – the Church – to be with Him forever.  So for this Christmas season, our focus is not only on the fact that Jesus was born to be Saviour of the world but also His coming a second time as the Bridegroom to marry His Bride.

It may seem that 2,000 years is a long time of waiting for the Bridegroom to return.  “But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day.  The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness.  He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.  But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare” (2 Pet. 3:8-10).

What is the Church to do between the engagement and the marriage?  The Lord Jesus warns us in Matt. 25:13 to be prepared and watchful.  We should not while away our time by being involved with the world.  “Do not love the world or anything in the world” (1 Jn. 2:15).  “Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.  That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat” (2 Pet 3:11-12).

To keep watch is to be spiritually alive and alert to the call of the Holy Spirit.  Let us joyfully await the soon return of our Bridegroom and be prepared and watchful.  Let us use all the means that God gives us to know Him, love Him and always obey Him.

For lo! the days are hastening on,
By prophets seen of old,
When with the ever-circling years
Shall come the time foretold,
When the new heaven and earth shall own
The Prince of Peace their King,
And the whole world sends back the song
Which now the angels sing.