PARTICIPATING IN THE COMING OF THE LORD

Paul referred to the Second Coming of Jesus when he wrote, "Husbands, love your wives even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for her; that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the Word.  THAT HE MIGHT PRESENT HER TO HIMSELF A GLORIOUS CHURCH, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish." (Ephesians 5:25-26)
Notice that Jesus is coming back for a "glorious church."  Notice that He is going to "present her (the church) unto Himself."  The church He is coming back for is not preoccupied with sin.  He's coming back for a bride that is without spot, wrinkle, or blemish of any kind.  He is coming back for a bride that is eagerly awaiting His return.
Notice in the text that He will sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water BY THE WORD!
The Word of God is essential for the presentation of the bride before her Lord.  No wonder that in the chapter that proceeds our text, Paul writes that when Jesus ascended up on high, "He led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men.  And He gave "some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ." (Ephesians 4:8,11-12)   What do these five ministry gifts do?  They minister the Word of God.  Notice that through their ministry the saints are "perfected."  The Amplified Translation adds that they are "fully equipped."  As we continue reading, we find that this perfecting is so that we can participate in preparing the bride for her Lord.  Paul writes that in sending ministry gifts, Jesus' intent was "the perfecting and the full equipping of the saints (His consecrated people), (that they should do) the work of ministering toward building up Christ's body (the church), (that it might develop) until we all attain oneness in the faith and in the comprehension of the (full and accurate) knowledge of the Son of God THAT WE MIGHT ARRIVE AT REALLY MATURE MANHOOD (the completeness of personality which is nothing less than the standard height of Christ's own perfection), the measure of the stature of the fullness of the Christ and the completeness found in Him.  SO THEN WE MAY NO LONGER BE CHILDREN..." (Ephesians 4:12-14 Amp.) 
As we are equipped by ministry gifts sent by Jesus to the church, the church then participates in the process of ministering to the body of Christ so that the church might come unto a full and accurate knowledge of the Son of God, arriving at really mature manhood, the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ!  Jesus has been given to be the "head" over all things to the church which is His "body", the fulness of Him that filleth all in all. (Ephesians 1:22-23)
Why would Jesus want His body to mature?  Why doesn't He want us to remain children?
Imagine if tomorrow morning you woke up, got out of bed, and noticed that you had a three-year-old's body!  You had a 30-year-old's head but suddenly you are operating with a three-year-old's body!  How much could you accomplish throughout the day?  Your head is telling you to do all sorts of things but your body simply can't respond.  The potential of your head to do something is going to be totally dependent on the body through which it must operate. How much work can you accomplish?  How are you going to drive to work when your feet can't even reach the pedals on the floorboard?  Your ability to enjoy many of the pleasures of life will be very limited.
Jesus wants us to mature, not only for our sake but also for the sake of others.  A child has a limited understanding of the world around them.  A child is very gullible and prone to deception.  A child will trail off into trouble.  A child gives up easily and fails to finish a task.  A child is easily discouraged and often gets irritable. A child is selfish and concerned with themselves rather than others.
Imagine what Jesus, the head of the church, can do if He has a mature body through which to work!  Imagine Jesus' ability to work through us without limitation.  Imagine the places we'd go, the things we'd see, what we would accomplish.  Jesus could utilize us in ways we never dreamed possible. How exciting would that be!
We have the glorious opportunity to work together with Jesus as the body of Christ.  We have the opportunity to prepare the church for that glorious day when she's presented before Him at His return.  I know of no other work more rewarding or fulfilling than that.  I want to be a part of that...don't you?  You can be!  Thank God Jesus has given gifts to the church for the perfecting of the saints for the work of the ministry.  May we avail ourselves to their teaching and ministry so we will stand before the Lord, unashamed, with joy unspeakable and full of glory!