Garment Language.
“Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” – Revelation 3:4-6. NLT
The garment language in this text is spiritual. Jesus is looking around Sardis to find candidates for heaven. No one will be out of place there. God’s judgment will not be based on outward appearance but will take into account the true character of each person as they respond to the saving sacrifice of Jesus. Those who follow Jesus now will not be out of place then! Wearing “the garment of Christ’s Righteousness” means living the life of spiritual reality now. In the Hebrew language “walking” was a metaphor for the total experience of everyday life. Our character is the sum total of the way that we “walk” from day to day. The church at Sardis had some serious deficiencies on the whole, but there were a few believers there whose character suggested that they would one day walk with Jesus in eternity.
In the old city of Jerusalem, archaeologists say you can tell the age of a pavement or a staircase by the amount of wear in the stones. Considering the hardness of most rocks, it is an amazing thing to realize that over a few thousand years the constant shuffling of sandaled feet can actually wear grooves and depressions into granite, slate, marble and other types of paving stones. Each time a foot slides over a stone, a microscopic puff of dust is worn away from a stone. Tens of thousands of steps leave a permanent impression. How amazing to think that these excavated stones have had the feet of Jesus and other patriarchs over them – adding to the wear.
In today’s world, where constant change is the norm, it is helpful to remember that others have gone before us.
We are never alone in our spiritual pilgrimage. We can seek out mentors and guides to help us overcome our most difficult moments. And above all, the well-worn steps that lead to God are before us every day in the Bible. When we open the ancient Word and listen to its voice, we can find solid ground for our feet.
In some parts of the ancient Greek world, when a person was about to be executed for a crime, his name was first erased from the roll of citizens. This seems to have been a necessary act before a citizen could be condemned to death.
It seems clear from this text that Jesus didn’t believe in the popular version of “once saved always saved.” Remaining in the Book of Life is the result of an ongoing process of “overcoming”. Remaining in the Book of Life is based on a continuing relationship with Jesus, not some arbitrary decree on God’s part. While our deeds are never the basis for our salvation, good works are the ongoing evidence that people belong to a saved community (Rev 19:7-8).
The promise that those who continue to overcome will not be blotted out of the Book of Life, is a warning to any Christian who thinks that mere profession or church attendance will be sufficient to ensure their salvation. If you cannot attach the gospel to hearts, hands and feet, then it isn’t worth much.
Christians need to realize that when we take the name of Jesus, we immediately become witnesses for Him. But when we merely go through the motions, when we don’t allow Jesus to change us, we give others the excuse not to allow Jesus to change their lives either. If we take on Christian faith as a thin veneer over our selfishness, we bear witness to a faith that will not change the world. It is a faith that may seem alive to others, but is nevertheless truly dead or about to die.
The victory of faith comes to those who persevere in overcoming.
Never be satisfied with merely a veneer of faith. The hope of the gospel must take over the core of our being and transform us into a true witness for God.
Hopeing and praying the Lord will find me find find me worthy of the white clothing
Stay strong and safe in our good Lords hands. You know this already. I’m right here in Hervey Bay with you. It is you who brought me to the SDA church, I could only be honoured to keep you there. Where else do we have to go?… In Jesus name we pray 🙏❤️🙏