We certainly should not prepare by pretending to be someone we are not.  A bride wants to be beautiful on her wedding day, but she and her groom are both aware of her imperfections. He loves her anyway, and wants to spend the rest of his life with her.  She in turn loves him and places her very life in his hands.

In the case of our relationship with Jesus, He is perfect and we are flawed.  Yet, He loves us.  Jesus knows our sinful past but He sees us through our present reality, clothed in grace and glowing in love.  Our daily trials are producing perseverance and we bear other spiritual fruit in our maturing process.

Perhaps when the Bride appears before Jesus on the final day, she will take His breath away; not because she has become perfect, but rather because she will radiate His perfection even as she is sanctified by His blood.  When Jesus beholds His Bride He will see a reflection of Himself, and that will bring Him joy.

As we prepare for the wedding feast we want the brilliance of the Savior, our hope of glory, to shine through us (Colossians 1:27).  We also want those around us to experience His transforming power.  With the Apostle Paul “We proclaim him, admonishing and teaching everyone with all wisdom, so that we may present everyone perfect in Christ” (Colossians 1:28).

Therefore, until that day comes, we should ready ourselves by deepening our devotion to the Groom.  He made it possible for us to appear blameless before His Father, and His grace continues to flow into and through our lives in the midst of a fallen world.