DO YOU QUALIFY?
We all have the qualities we are looking for in a life partner. Some of these qualities are negotiable while some are non-negotiable. It is interesting to note that Christ also has qualities he is looking for in a bride. It is challenging to keep a relationship between two people until death does them part. We need to make sure we emulate Christ and have the same standards to ensure marriages of our time are divorce-proof. Christ is preparing a bride for himself. What makes it exciting is that we are ready also for earthly weddings in the process. The issue is whether we have allowed him to embed these eternal qualities in us so as we can enjoy life on earth as we wait for the next stage. While on earth, we are on a training ground. We can apply these qualities now even as we wait for the groom to appear.
Forgiveness
The bride of Christ must have a forgiving attitude. Christ will not present an unforgiving bride to the Father. The scripture says that if we don’t forgive men their sins, then our heavenly father will not forgive us of our sins as well (Matthew 6:15). Who wants to get married to one who keeps a record of wrongs anyway? In the same way that God, in Christ forgave us our sins, we need to forgive one another (Ephesians 4:32). Until death do us part is too long to hold grudges. We need to develop a forgiving attitude and understand that we not exceptional in hurting others. We shall also need forgiveness.
Purity
Christ is coming for a holy bride (1Peter 1:15-16). Holiness concerning God and man refers to moral purity. Moral purity is non-negotiable for a lasting marriage. When you look at your character, where do you rate yourself? Is your moral life unquestionable? Christ is coming for a blameless bride. Who wants to get married to an immoral person? Let us concentrate on whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely and admirable as Philippians 4:8 encourages us.
Bears with Others
Christ is coming for a bride that is fair to others, gentle, patient, forbearing and courteous (Colossians 3:12-14; Ephesians 4:2). This bride is not harsh or rough but considerate of the feelings of others. If you can bear the sins and wrongdoings of other people why not the ones of your spouse. As we develop these qualities in us within the body of Christ, then it would be with much ease to cultivate them in relationships and eventually marriage life as well.
Submission
Christ is coming for a submissive bride (Ephesians 5:21; James 4:7). Submission is a requirement not only for wives to husbands to church to Christ. Unless a woman submits to God, she cannot submit to her husband, and unless a man offers himself to God, he cannot love the wife as Christ loves the church.
Faithful
Christ is coming for a faithful bride: Faithfulness is a fruit of the Spirit. Christ is looking at your faithfulness to him. Who wants to share their life partner with another? Christ is firm in the subject of unfaithfulness in marriage (Matthew 19:1-12). Christ is not ready to share his bride with another man. He is a jealous God. The human being is in God’s image, and this makes us jealous like him also whereby we won’t like to share our life partners with other people.
The above qualities are essential for both our upcoming marriage with Christ and the same attributes is what we need to ensure that our Christian marriages are divorce-proof. Measuring yourself with the above standard, do you qualify to be married to Christ? If yes then even your earthly marriage shall be built on rocky ground and stand the test of time. If not, you have to let God work in you.
