The Marriage Supper of the Lamb.
Here is a short story that was sent to me. After reading the Scripture, read the story, then we will look at 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’s one more thing,” she said. “What’s 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, doesn’t it?” 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’s 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 good-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’s 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.
Do we have our forks ready? What excuses will we give? In Luke 14:15-24, Jesus tells the parable of the great feast; people gave excuses why not to go. Will we be properly dressed? In Matthew 22:1-14, Jesus tells of the wedding feast; the man did not have a wedding garment. In Revelation 7:9-14, it tells of the robes of white. Where will we spend eternity? In Luke 16:19-31, is the story of the rich man and the beggar.
God sent the Invitation, Christ prepares the Feast, and the Holy Spirit knocks at the Hearts door.
“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.
What is your answer, how will you respond?
The groom is asking, the bride to come.
And the supper will be in heaven, our new home above.
Here’s a wedding invitation, He’s sending with love.
The judgment of the wicked and the wedding feast of the Lamb and His bride (“wife”), the church, which is made up of all faithful believers throughout all time, come to an end here. We can see the contrast between the extravagant attire of the great whore in Revelation 17:4 and 18:16 with that of the bride. The righteousness of the saints is the bride’s attire. These are the works of Christ to save us, not the religious works of believers (Revelation 7:9).
Jesus is the focal point of God’s revelation 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 recollect that the overall topic in each of the visions is the definitive triumph of Jesus Christ over all evil.
Where do you stand today? Are you dressed in the righteousness of Christ? And do you have your fork ready for the great wedding feast in heaven?
