“And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” “For I am jealous for you with godly jealousy. For I have betrothed you to one husband that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.” 2 Cor. 11:2-3. You cannot make yourself ready as a bride before you have been betrothed. To be betrothed means that you have entered into a covenant. Paul had led them into this covenant. “That I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit.” Rom. 15:16-18. To have entered this covenant means that the bride has given herself as a sacrifice. It is her “Yes” to the Bridegroom. Then she receives the Holy Spirit as a seal for the day of redemption. Eph. 4:30. “Who is the guarantee of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, to the praise of His glory.” Eph. 1:14. He will lead the bride to the whole truth. He will also glorify the Bridegroom for the bride, “for He will take of what is Mine and declare it to you.” John 16:13-15. This means that the bride partakes of the same life as the Bridegroom. When she is ready she will also have works with which to clothe herself; these works are the fine linen, clean and bright. She is not unknown to the Father or to the angels. “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.” Rev. 3:4-5. However, the bride is not alone in making herself ready. The Bridegroom also prepares a place for her. “In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.” Read John 14:2-3. “But as it is written: ‘Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.’” 1 Cor. 2:9. The Bridegroom cannot prepare a place for those who are not betrothed to Him—who do not love Him. He comes to fetch only those who eagerly wait for Him, and only they prepare themselves for the marriage feast. Heb. 9:28. People prepare themselves for so many things in this life; however, many things turn out to be a disappointment, and they never obtain many others. They prepare themselves for a vocation in this life; they make preparations for a trip, vacations, competitive sports, etc. They make many plans in this battle for their existence to which both sickness and death can put an end. Thus they have thrown away the possibility of partaking of the life of Christ and that He can prepare a place for them in glory when He comes to fetch His own. Paul saw the glory of gaining Christ so great that he counted everything as loss “for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord.” Phil. 3:7-8. “This is a faithful saying, ‘For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him.’” 2 Tim. 2:11.Sigurd Bratlie