"Who are these, robed in white,
and where have they come from?"
"These are the ones who have
come out of the great ordeal;
they have washed their robes and
made them white in the blood of the Lamb."
Revelation 7:13-14
When my son Paul played football he washed his white football pants with his bright red socks. The result, of course? He didn't quite achieve quite as fearsome and manly appearance as he intended on the football field in pink pants.
We know what should happen if we wash our "robes" in crimson, right?
Let's get the context ... The Elder asks John, "Who are these robed in white?" John is the newcomer in heaven and pleads, "How am I supposed to know? Tell me!" The Elder tells him two things ...
First, these are the true saints. Life is already filled with too many trials ... but, as scripture tells us, when the final days approach, life will be filled with more testing and temptations. The Elder is telling John -- and us -- that true saints have courageous faith. In the face of persecution, true saints stand up for what they believe in!
As Jesus said in the beatitudes, "Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." That's what's pictured here. Salvation! Redemption! Restoration! Peace and joy!
Second, I love the counter-intuitive image of their washed robes. We know what happens if we wash football pants with red socks. And we know what's supposed to happen if we wash our robes of life in blood. But Jesus' blood is healing. It's the only thing that makes us pure and white.
When we cling to cross of Christ, there is hope and life! And peace and joy! And forgiveness and restoration!
In the blood of the Lamb there is heaven!
In Christ's Love,
a bloody mess
(in his blood, my mess is forgiven
and I am made whole)
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