I was the youngest of four boys. The first child God blessed us with was a boy. So, I had a lot to learn and experience when our second blessing from God was a girl.
Last week was another one of those new experiences. I went shopping for a wedding dress. I had never been in a wedding dress shop, so I have to admit I was a little overwhelmed when I walked in the front door and was instantly flashed by a sea of white – hundreds of wedding dresses. Then went on to discover there was much more to the shop – I think they said about 2500 dresses in stock! That’s a lot of white!
Reflecting on my initial reaction, I thought about John’s reaction to what he saw when allowed to see the throne room of God:
Revelation 7: 9-14
After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”
13 Then one of the elders addressed me, saying, “Who are these, clothed in white robes, and from where have they come?” 14 I said to him, “Sir, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones coming out of the great tribulation. They have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.
Later, in the Revelation, John shares another view of heaven.
Revelation 19: 6-9
Then I heard what seemed to be the voice of a great multitude, like the roar of many waters and like the sound of mighty peals of thunder, crying out, “Hallelujah! For the Lord our God the Almighty reigns. 7 Let us rejoice and exult and give him the glory, for the marriage of the Lamb has come, and his Bride has made herself ready; 8 it was granted her to clothe herself with fine linen, bright and pure”— for the fine linen is the righteous deeds of the saints. 9 And the angel said to me, “Write this: Blessed are those who are invited to the marriage supper of the Lamb.” And he said to me, “These are the true words of God.”
Lord willing, in our lesson Sunday evening, we will explore the white robes more. For now, let us rejoice that the Lamb of God has shed his precious blood, to redeem us of our sins and clothe us in the righteousness of Jesus! To Him be the glory!
-John Helbig
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