Clothed In White

Scripture Reading: Revelation 7:9-10

There is perhaps no more beautiful a picture either in nature than a scene blanketed in heavy snow. In southern West Virginia we have had the pleasure of having some slight but pretty snowfalls. Of course now that I am a little older and more wary of slick roads my liking to snow changes with my days off or my days working. However, despite the hazardous roads everyone can appreciate the beauty of the environment.

I believe firmly that God did not create anything for a singular purpose. I believe that everything we behold in this world has its useful purpose and its purpose to cause us to think spiritually. Snow is by far the greatest illustration of who we are in Christ and what we have...His Righteousnes.

Whenever I see snow covering the ground I am always reminded that this is the way God sees the believer, clothed in righteous white. The old nature of sin is covered by His blood, but that blood washes away the sin stain and He clothes us with the righteousness of Jesus Christ, this is how and why we will be able to stand in the presence of the Holy God our Father. The fundamental difference between our earthly snow and the righteousness of Christ is that our snow covers and then fades away leaving the original material unaffected. The righteousness of Christ removes and then replaces. Let's look for a minute or two about some of the attributes of this . complete covering of God's righteousness.

First, the White Clothes of Righteousness are pure and undefiled.
Snow being white has the quality of purity and anything that falls on it of any other color we denote as a stain. For example when you see mud and slush on the road or in a parking lot piled in with snow from a plow, the snow isn't nearly as picturesque. Another example is when you see blood or a leaking substance of some other color on top of snow, the snow seems a bit grimy. The best example however is when we see a deep blanket of "virgin" undisturbed snow, we see a peaceful scene. Yet when a tire track or footprints marr it up, the scene is not as refreshing.
In the spiritual sense when we sin we stain our relationship with God, but notice that sin does not have an eternal stain. The righteous clothing we will one day wear are seen on us mortals already by the Father. That is to say when we sin, though we need forgiveness to restore our fellowship with God, we do not worry that the stain of sin now keeps us from our Eternal home and placement as a son or daughter in Christ. We cannot stain, tear up, marr, disfigure or in any wise defile our eternal standing. The Bible says in John 10:29, that no one can pluck us from the Father's hand, not even we ourselves. However, even if it were possible to defile and sin our way out of righteousness, the true believer would never trade his or her old lifestyle for their new one. Just as if someone gave you a brand new, never worn white coat to wear, you would not trade it for some old tattered stained coat found on the side of the road. Neither would you take your new coat and role around in mud willingly. Thanks be to God that when we do sin, it does not forever defile our righteousness because it is His righteousness undefiled we wear.

Second, the White Clothes of Righteousness are costly. Even though salvation through Christ cost us nothing, it cost Him everything. He gave us His coat of pure righteousness that no one but Himself owned and traded it for our stinking, vile, rotten tattered rags of sin. I am afraid we as believers today take little appreciation of the gift we are given. We see little how sinful we are and how perfect Christ is. This free white clothing of ours is an exclusive garment. Exclusive garments always cost. Christ willingly laid down not only His life, but His sinless reputation on our execution block. He willingly submitted to the death of the lowest human sort and descended down to the most miry depths of filth, who knew no such filth, that we might have His life, who knew no such glorious life. Its a complete loving concept I can never describe the whole of because there is nothing to relate it to in human terms. Even if we give our life for another man, we still don't pay as much to give our mortal existence as He did to give us His Heavenly existence for eternity.

Third, the White Clothes of Righteousness are everlasting and unconditional. If there is any greater depth of understanding and appreciation of what Christ has done for us in giving His unspotted Righteousness to us, is that it cannot be voided or have an end. We have nothing to compare to this in the world. Everything we have, earn, and have attributed to us will desert you in the hour of death. This is why nothing can satisfy. King Solomon spent most of his life in the pursuit of every possible pleasure only to find everything was of no value. The fundamental reason for this is worth writing down, All of your possessions and fame are of this world, you are not. So this makes the free gift of God even more attractive. God does not give us something that we will see become worn over the centuries. Righteousness never gets old or needs replacing. The effects of sin cannot touch your eternal righteousness in Christ because sin will never be present where the redeemed soul dwells. The clothes of righteousness simply cannot wear out because they are your whole being, not a covering.

Just as the clothes of righteousness are everlasting they cannot be removed for any reason. It was customary in Biblical days for a ruling family to be stripped of all their power and glamor when they were conquered or forced into exile. A king without a kingdom or devoted servants was no more royal or of noble status than the common man. Furthermore, a person could not become a person of nobility unless they had it in their bloodline. However, none of us who have been given righteousness has any other claim to the Heavenly throne of our own selves. Conditionally speaking, as humans none of us have any sure lasting claim to the glorious Hope. However again, Christ did not come to save on the premise of quality or special birthright. To take away our righteousness, someone would have to be more powerful than the King who gave it. There are none to do this. God told Isaiah, there are none before Me, there shall be none after Me. What we have in Christ is most solid and secure.

Lastly, the White Clothes of Righteousness are the mark of a changed life. Many people can say they are turning over a new leaf in life, or making change happen, but unless they have Christ and His righteousness present in them, all they do will not matter. Most worldly change is social in nature, that is to say, more common good for man in charities and housing is done, more communal enrichment, more cultural enrichment, etc. While all this is very good, its not good enough. The inner man is still sinful, he or she has the same morality problems, the same personal hangups, the same cold spiritual temperature no matter how much religion is included. A Truly Changed life wears Christ righteousness. A person truly changed in Christ sill contributes to society in a positive way, they hopefully have good relations with the world around them, yet in all they do the reason is because they are eternally minded and desire not to build their own reputation, but give God all the glory in what they do. Advancing the Kingdom of Christ is the truly changed person's ultimate goal, for they know that all of what we have here on Earth will quickly dissolve and only what is done for Christ will last. That greater good work for mankind will focus more on the salvation of souls as we help with the earthly needs.
If you experience a person, who despite the worldly norm, are different in character, spiritual desire and desire for God's glory is one whom Christ has clothed in White. This is the person all men should desire to be, yet few will desire the narrow road. But we know according to John 1, whoever believes on the name of Christ will be called the sons and daughters of God and be changed inside out.

In conclusion, Are you Clothed in White? Does the purity and unconditional cloak of Righteousness cover you? Simply a decision to trust in Christ, changes you forever and gives each of us what we all need but none could afford--Clothes of Unblemished, Unstained, Unrestricted White.

Dear Lord Jesus, we simply thank You for something so amazing and wonderful that you freely give us. Thank You for Your desire for we the undeserving to be joint heirs with You. Thank You for Your White Righteousness that makes us holy before You for all Eternity! Amen.

It Will NOT Come OUT!!!

Scripture Reading: 1 Peter 1:18-20

How many times have you been told in life (mostly the men here) when we spill something on us, usually food, that it won't come out? Of course the morsel of food or the blob of whatever lifts off the fabric, but the footprint it leaves beneath it stays there.

I had the most unique experience I want to share this week. Although I did not think so at the time, this makes for a good illustration. It was Communion night at my church. We have an AV room separate from the main congregation so one of the deacon's brings back the bread and juice to us. I had my bread and juice on the desk in front of me. We could watch on our monitor when it was time to partake. It came to the juice and as I put the plastic cup to my mouth I thought I saw a drip and as I drank, the whole cup was running everywhere. I jumped back and sat the cup down (which puddled out on the desk). The guy beside me said, "Dude, your glass is cracked." I saw all the purple drops on my best shirt and I immediately ran to the staff bathroom to wash the shirt to no avail. You sort of look at grape juice like acid, its dangerous effects are usually permanent, so you handle it carefully. I always cringe as I see a whole platter of grape juice passing down the row. Well, anyway, there I was big wet blob on the shirt from the intense "water treatment" and all these little stains on me. As I was surveying myself in the mirror, the Holy Spirit reminded me just how vital a picture this was to see.

Stains are not usually welcome on our person or our clothes. They denote ugly marks we rather not anyone see for embarrassment sake. All stains except one. We as humans will have up to two stains on our souls. First we were born with the stain of sin. The Bible says that this sin brings death of eternal separation from God on all of us (Romans 6:23). As hard as we try to remove that stain with the solution of good deeds or moral living that stain will not come out! I soaked and soaked myself with water, and the grape juice stain lightened but did not disappear. The Holiness of God requires that ALL the stain be gone, not faded, but removed. We have nothing at all in our power to remove such a stain.

The second stain is the cleansing stain of Christ's blood. Here was the illustration from the broken communion cup. To rid our sins, Christ was to go to the Cross to shed His blood for the forgiveness of them, completing the fulfillment of the Old Testament pattern. The difference was that the blood He shed would be totally sufficient as it would not go away nor wear off in its potency. Grape juice (which we use to represent the blood of Christ shed for sin) has the express quality of not coming out of clothes. When you and I receive Jesus Christ into our hearts, His blood cleanses us from all sin. This is not a one time action. This covering stain lasts forever never coming out of our souls.

There are Christian folk that believe in this cleansing blood, but cannot accept the fact that its permanent. How sad to be tormented by the thought, for just one sin committed, and then death comes and they perish forever in Hell. This is not what the Scriptures teach, but what the deception of Satan shouts. If the blood of Christ is to be a perfect payment for sins, then should it last. Anything that does not last completely, is not perfect. We do not desire to keep sinning, but when we do sin there is no eternal condemnation for it either. You cannot sin your way out of salvation. When Christ "stains" a heart, what really happens is that old stain of sin (that cannot be cleansed by any other means) is removed and the new stain of Christ's blood replaces it. The "stain" of His blood is not an ugly one, but more like a beautifully painted portrait. That portrait is our righteousness and our ONLY pass into Heaven.

Finally, a stain is something we try to hide. I was embarrassed to circulate in the halls of our church due to gigantic blob all over my shirt. I could not hide it. We should not be embarrassed or try to hide or cover up the reality of Jesus in our lives. If the stain were reproachable, certainly we should try to hide, but it isn't. The stain is glorious. The stain is something we should want all to see and hopefully desire to have too. When we try to blend in with the world, we are hiding our stain of Redemption. When we are open about speaking for Jesus in our lives and for what He has done, we are showing Him off. How can we cover up the very thing that completely and utterly changed the course of our lives from destruction to everlasting Hope?

Does the stain of sin still marr your soul? Would you desire to have it removed? Once death comes, either the stain of sin or the stain of Christ's precious blood is set for all eternity. You can lose your sin stain in this life, but you never can lose the redemption of His stain. In a world of absolute uncertainty, one thing is quite certain. A decision to be saved by Christ's blood never changes. Its the permanent stain of Righteousness, and it won't come out!!!

If you're not a believer in Jesus Christ, consider the consequences of your decision not to trust Him. Is it really worth suffering unspeakable torment all alone forever just to live a few years on Earth "enjoying" life which will ultimately betray you? I plead with you, turn your life to Christ.

Would you pray with me,

Dear Jesus, I realize I have a black mark of sin on me. I know that mark means I am not going to Heaven. But I know from what I have read today that my sins can be removed and forgiven by trusting in Jesus. I desire for You to come into my heart and cleanse my sin stain and cover me with your stain of blood of forgiveness and salvation. Thank you Lord that your forgiveness lasts forever,

and forever now I will be with You. In your Name, Amen.

If you received Christ through this posting online or through reading it in an e-mail, please write to me and I want to send you a free booklet to help you on your new Christian walk with Christ. The address is jonbrowning@suddenlink.net

Give and Take Prayers, Part 2 of 2

Last time we were reading together, we were discussing how a majority of our prayers are more request or "taking" oriented. That is OK given the proper attitude. However, in our personal prayer times we should remember the giving as well.

In fact, if we were to do anything better in our prayers it should be this attitude and action of Giving. What do we mean by giving? Giving to God? Giving what to God?

Isn't it interesting that we fall so short of seeing God as a genuine person with feelings. We rightfully think of Him as a Sovereign Being with Omnipotence and judgement at His disposal, but we seldom see the nature of His loving heart. He desires we give back to Him. You see the painting here in the article, it is called simply "Grace." This painting (a copy) has hung in my Grandma's house for as long as I can remember. So simple it is in its imagery, yet how profound in its message. The subject of the painting is simply doing what God delights in the most. Giving thanks. All the elements are present: the person, the Word of God, the daily bread, the soup, the utensils for eating, the table, but most importantly the attitude. It is most true that we as Christians can and should give back to God our money, our service, our talents and skills, our lives, but in all that He is more delighted when we give Him our heart of gratitude. When we pray, our hearts should be set on thanking Him for all things. When we do so we are expressing our complete dependence on Him and we are grateful that He so mighty should favor us wonderfully the lowly.

My dad's side of the family at the dinner table, usually at Christmas, would call on me to "return thanks." I always thought that an odd saying, but you know when we pray that is what we do. We return our thankfulness and point it to the ear of the Almighty. As He has allowed others to be thankful for kind deeds we have shown them, so to shall we not all return our thanks for the immense blessings He has given us.

Simply put,

Everything that we are, everything that we have, every possession, every dollar, every skill, every morsel of food, every talent, every good memory, every joy, every hope, every ounce of bodily strength, every idea of mental capacity, every blessing in any form has all passed from His hand to our being. How dare we not acknowledge the Source as the Source has acknowledged us?

Perhaps the Psalmist David is the one most credited for offering praise and Thanksgivings the most to God. But it was the Apostle Paul who reminded us in 2 Corinthians 9:11 that we are Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God. In the fourth chapter of this same book Paul speaks of His afflictions with thankfulness to God because it was being used for the sakes of his readers and to redound to the Glory of God.

We have Jesus Christ, need any other excuse in the heart for being downcast be created? I forget, you do too, when things are tough and are more than what we consider to be our fair share of suffering doled out to us, we should remember Christ and His sacrifice on Calvary. What Calvary gives the believer is the supreme guarantee among many things that we are not always going to face illness, pain, loss, hurt, hardship, despair, loneliness, disease, wrongdoing, unprecedented and undeserved torture, etc. that One Day, most assuredly, because we place our trust in Jesus Christ and what He did at Calvary, all the former things Shall be passed away and Eternity holds no fear or trepidation for the saints. All of what we experience shall be swallowed up with death in everlasting hope and glory. Shall we praise God and give Him thanks?

Nothing can be named or spoken that can give God more joy than to hear the true heartfelt thankfulness given from His children's lips. Let's make more of our daily prayer time a simple time of giving.

Father, Thank You, for Jesus Christ our Savior and Hope. Thank you God for supplying all our needs as Paul reminds us in Philippians 4:19. Thank you for us having something to eat today and for our senses and our breathing this earthly air as it is a sign that you love us and are looking out for us. We have so much to give you thanks and praise for, help us not to be slack or vainly ritualistic in our offerings to you. Thank you Father for all the hope we have and the home awaiting us with all the saints for the unending expanse of Eternity. In thy name we praise, Amen.

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