A Revelation Invitation

“And to the angel of the church in Sardis write: …
“ ‘Yet you have still a few names in Sardis, people who have not soiled their garments, and they will walk with me in white, for they are worthy. The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments, and I will never blot his name out of the book of life. I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.’ ” (Revelation 3:1a,4-5 ESV)

When a husband and wife set out to adopt a child, the final step in the process requires them to appear before a judge. Even for an adoption a courtroom can seem intimidating. The judge has the power to grant or deny. The future of the child and the new family is in his hands. However, before the judge makes his decision, a social worker representing both the state and the parents declares to the court that the parents are fit to adopt. She has interviewed the parents, combed through their answers to her questionnaire, observed their family, inspected their house, performed background checks and reviewed character references. Based on her research and observations she presents the prospective parents to the judge as ones who are worthy to adopt. The judge invariably accepts the social worker’s recommendation and approves the adoption. What a joyous day.

The promises Jesus makes in the above verse allude to our appearance before the great Judge, the God of heaven. Having our names recorded in the book of life, our salvation is secure. Furthermore, having conquered, having been faithful through our trials unto death, we will be clothed in white garments. Notice the passive voice of “will be clothed”. We don’t clothe ourselves in white. Rather, Jesus clothes us before presenting us to the Judge. He covers us with his purity acknowledging that we have conquered. A failed background check or a damning interrogation is averted because Jesus has clothed us in white garments. He will declare us worthy before the Judge.

Then Jesus makes a promise that should both exhilarate and humble us. He states that he will confess our names before the great Judge, his Father, and and before his angels! The Son representing both the Judge and us, the accused, will stand in his Father’s presence as our advocate confessing our names! He will declare us worthy, a worthiness that the Son made possible through his own suffering. Our own shortcomings will be passed over. Our failures are covered by his blood. We are able to overcome because he has already conquered death himself. He will identify us by name telling his Father, “She has overcome. She never gave up. She was faithful to me to the end. That is my righteousness that she is clothed in. She is worthy; I made her so.” What a joyous day!

Lord Jesus, you persevered to the end conquering death. Now you clothe me in victory. You clothe me in purity. You present me to your Father and his angels as one who is worthy. You will confess my name before them. With those promise I can endure any trials or tribulations to the end. By your strength I too can conquer. Amen.