It is that time of the year, holiday time, where in years past I have dropped my guard and seen others do the same. It is when we are most vulnerable and this is why we need to be more attentive. This morning I leave for my year-end vacation, Plettenberg Bay my destination. Holidays seems to give us an excuse to go on leave even as Christians, I know that is a ridiculous thought in itself, but the mind loves to look for easy outs. We are Christians 24/7; this leaves us either walking obediently before our Holy Father or as disobedient children when we excuse what we normally wouldn’t.
A good thought to take with us on our break is this; “For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1Thessolonians 5:2-9)
May we remember that we have a great hope that is just on the horizon, but it is yet to arrive, let us therefore be zealous to attain to the resurrection and be the beacons of light we were called to be, wherever that may be, and not to run with the rest of the crowd but to be the salt of the earth. God help us we pray to grow more and more into our glorious Saviour image, Amen!
An encouraging thought as we venture off to our various destinations…
Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with me in white: for they are worthy.”- Rev_3:4
“We may understand this to refer to justification. “They shall walk in white”; that is, they shall enjoy a constant sense of their own justification by faith; they shall understand that the righteousness of Christ is imputed to them, that they have all been washed and made whiter than the newly-fallen snow.
Again, it refers to joy and gladness: for white robes were holiday dresses among the Jews. They who have not defiled their garments shall have their faces always bright; they shall understand what Solomon meant when he said “Go thy way, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart. Let thy garments be always white, for God hath accepted thy works.” He who is accepted of God shall wear white garments of joy and gladness, while he walks in sweet communion with the Lord Jesus. Whence so many doubts, so much misery, and mourning? It is because so many believers defile their garments with sin and error, and hence they lose the joy of their salvation, and the comfortable fellowship of the Lord Jesus, they do not here below walk in white.
The promise also refers to walking in white before the throne of God. Those who have not defiled their garments here shall most certainly walk in white up yonder, where the white-robed hosts sing perpetual hallelujahs to the Most High. They shall possess joys inconceivable, happiness beyond a dream, bliss which imagination knoweth not, blessedness which even the stretch of desire hath not reached. The “undefiled in the way” shall have all this-not of merit, nor of works, but of grace. They shall walk with Christ in white, for he has made them “worthy.” In his sweet company they shall drink of the living fountains of waters.” (C.H.Spurgeon)
Let us rest well, for we may well deserve it, but let us ensure all that is done is concluded in the name of the Lord.
Signing off
Tyrone
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