Do We Have Our Forks Ready?

The sincere reaction to God by the individuals who love Him is in praise. The more that we get to know the Lord and acknowledge what and how He has helped us, the more we will answer with a spirit of praise. At the core of genuine love is praise and worship. We should let our commendation of God stream out of our acknowledgment of what His identity is and for the amount that He cherishes us.

An immense group in paradise starts the ensemble of recognition to the Lord for His triumph (19:1-3). Then, at that point, the twenty-four elders referenced in Revelation 4:4, join the theme (19:4). Yet again at last, the incredible ensemble of paradise gives praise to God, the wedding feast of the Lamb has come (Revelation 19:6-8; Matthew 25:1-13).

This is the perfection of humanity’s set of experiences, the judgment of the evil, and the marriage gala of the Lamb and His lady of the hour, the bride, who is the congregation (the Body of Christ) comprising of every one of the faithful followers of Christ from over the course of history. The bride’s clothing remains as an absolute opposite to the ostentatious apparel of the “woman” and “great city” of Revelation 17:4 and Revelation 18:16 respectively. The bride’s clothing is the exemplary nature (righteousness) of the relative multitude of the saints. These are not the strict religious works by any value of the believers, however, but by the work that Christ did to save us (Revelation 7:9-14).

Jesus is the focal point of God’s disclosure and His plan of redemption as reported by the prophets. As we read through the book of Revelation, we ought not get stalled in every one of the subtleties of these marvelous visions. Yet, we are to recall that the overall topic in each of the visions is the definitive triumph of Jesus Christ over all evil.

Here is a story that was sent to me regarding the title to this message. After reading the scripture, read the story, then we will continue with the message.

There was a woman who was diagnosed with a terminal illness and had a few months to live. As she was getting her things in order, she contacted her pastor to discuss certain aspects of her final wishes. They discussed which songs to be sung, what scriptures to read, her favorite Bible, and outfit to be dressed in. After getting the items in order, and as the pastor was leaving, she remembered something important to her. “There is one more thing,” she said. “What is that?” the pastor replied. “I want to be buried with a fork in my right hand,” she stated.

The pastor looked at her with a puzzled expression, not knowing what to say. “That surprises you, does it not?” the woman asked. “I am curious as to why this strange request,” said the pastor. She explained, “In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember as the dishes were being cleared away from the main course, someone would lean over and say, ‘keep your fork.’ When I heard that, I knew that something better was coming…like a deep-dish pie. Something wonderful and had substance! It was my favorite part. So, I want people to see me in the casket with a fork in my hand, and I want them to wonder, what is with the fork? I want you to tell them, keep your fork…the best is yet to come!”

The pastor’s eyes welled up with tears of joy as he hugged the lady god-bye. He knew this would be one of the last times that he would see her before her death. But he knew that she had sincere grasp of Heaven. She KNEW something was coming, and it was better. At the funeral, people were walking by the casket and saw her nice outfit, her Bible, and the fork in her hand. Numerous times, the pastor could hear the question, ‘what is with the fork.’ And over and over he would smile.

During his message, the pastor told the congregation of the conversation he had with the woman not long before her passing. He described the symbolism of the fork and what it meant to her. The pastor told the people of how he could not stop thinking about the fork, and that they would probably would not stop thinking about it either. He was correct. So, the next time you reach for your fork, let it remind you that the best IS yet to come.

“The Wedding Invitation” by Kyla Rowland.

You’re invited to a wedding, that will be held soon.

We are the bride; Christ is the groom.

With a crown to wear, and a long white robe.

We’ll walk down the aisle, made of pure gold.