The Bridal Gown
“What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble! But do you want to know, O foolish man, that faith without works is dead? Was not Abraham our father justified by works when he offered Isaac his son on the altar? Do you see that faith was working together with his works, and by works faith was made perfect? And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” And he was called the friend of God. You see then that a man is justified by works, and not by faith only. Likewise, was not Rahab the harlot also justified by works when she received the messengers and sent them out another way? For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.” (James 2:14-26)
I am thankful that when we are saved, we are saved by grace through faith (see Ephesians 2:8-9). Our works alone cannot save us because we'll never do enough good to "cancel out" our sins. But the Lord sees our faith and we're made right with Him by His grace.
How do others see our faith? By our works. James said, "I'll show you my faith by my works." (James 2:18) In Jesus' Sermon on the Mount, He said that a good tree brings forth good fruit and a corrupt tree brings forth corrupt fruit. Good can't produce evil, and evil can't produce good. By their fruits, you shall know them. (See Matthew 7:17-20)
In the book of Revelation, I've read of a great marriage that is going to take place. “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints. And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God.” (Revelation 19:7-9) (The Lamb is Jesus and the church is every believer.) Jesus tells of this great love and longing for relationship with us in John 17:23-26..."I in them, and You in Me; that they may be made perfect in one, and that the world may know that You have sent Me, and have loved them as You have loved Me. Father, I desire that they also whom You gave Me may be with Me where I am, that they may behold My glory which You have given Me; for You loved Me before the foundation of the world. O righteous Father! The world has not known You, but I have known You; and these have known that You sent Me. And I have declared to them Your name, and will declare it, that the love with which You loved Me may be in them, and I in them."
Revelation 9:8 tells of the fine linen the bride shall wear. It is the righteousness of the saints, clean and white. I wanted to dig deeper and get a clearer picture of what this righteousness is. In this verse, the greek word for "righteousness" is "dikaioma" and it means "just deeds." The gown that we shall wear before the Lord is made up of our good works.
"Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is. If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward." (1 Corinthians 3:12-14) What we do for God's glory is what will last and matter through eternity!
As a dressmaker sews a bride's gown, we're spending our lives making our gown that we'll wear before the Lamb. So let's remind ourselves constantly of "the big day." Let's draw nearer to God and get ourselves ready, staying faithful and pure. Let's spread the news of Jesus Christ and "let our lights shine so everyone will see our good works and give glory to our Heavenly Father." (Matthew 5:16) When "the big day" arrives, I pray that we will all be dressed in the very best!
-Eryn Eubanks (June 2006)