He Is Coming
The ideas and concepts of fashion and clothing over the past centuries have greatly challenged the minds of Christians, placing us in a position of compromise. We are being robbed even of our basic covering with which the Lord so graciously clothed us.
In what direction are we travelling? Where are we going, brethren and sisters? Why are we still here, and why are we not in heaven? The answer often given is that the gospel must be preached in all the world - and this is indeed true (Matthew 24:14; 28:19, 20). Yet there is also something more to be considered:
The answer involves a concept touched upon in the story of the Good Samaritan, where we read of a man who was robbed and stripped of his raiment (Luke 10:30). The man was headed away from Jerusalem to Jericho.
A tragic thought. Similarly, we are told, “it was not the will of God that the coming of Christ should be thus delayed. God did not design that His people, Israel, should wander forty years in the wilderness. He promised to lead them directly to the land of Canaan and establish them there a holy, healthy, happy people. But those to whom it was first preached, went not in ‘because of unbelief.’ ”1 The people’s hearts were filled with murmuring, rebellion, and hatred, so God could not fulfill His covenant with them. Like the victim in the story of the Good Samaritan, Israel had been robbed - in this case robbed spiritually by the archenemy of souls.
As people are trained for the secular enterprises of life, we do not know ahead of time all the answers to the specific questions that will come our way. However, the wonderful Saviour provides us with the opposite. He tells us exactly what is required. Jesus tells us why we are delayed and what we should do to complete our journey.
“The same sins have delayed the entrance of modern Israel into the heavenly Canaan. In neither case were the promises of God at fault. It is the unbelief, the worldliness, unconsecration, and strife among the Lord’s professed people that have kept us in this world of sin and sorrow so many years.
“We may have to remain here in this world because of insubordination many more years, as did the children of Israel; but for Christ’s sake, His people should not add sin to sin by charging God with the consequence of their own wrong course of action.”2
The beloved apostle says in 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” We have been robbed, yet the psalmist David helps us understand who our great God is, and how He is clothed: “Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Who coverest thyself with light as with a garment: who stretchest out the heavens like a curtain” (Psalm 104:1, 2). Another prophet describes: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10). The question should then be asked concerning our ways of providing the clothing which will meet the standard of God. Is it possible for us to provide this garment? “Only the covering which Christ Himself has provided can make us meet to appear in God’s presence. This covering, the robe of His own righteousness, Christ will put upon every repenting, believing soul. ‘I counsel thee,’ He says, ‘to buy of me . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed’ (Revelation 3:18).
“This robe, woven in the loom of heaven, has in it not one thread of human devising. Christ in His humanity wrought out a perfect character, and this character He offers to impart to us. ‘All our righteousnesses are as filthy rags’ (Isaiah 64:6). Everything that we of ourselves can do is defiled by sin. But the Son of God ‘was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin.’ Sin is defined to be ‘the transgression of the law’ (1 John 3:5, 4). But Christ was obedient to every requirement of the law.”3
“We are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6).
Yet thankfully, “your heavenly Father will take from you the garments defiled by sin. In the beautiful parabolic prophecy of Zechariah, the high priest Joshua, standing clothed in filthy garments before the angel of the Lord, represents the sinner. And the word is spoken by the Lord, ‘Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. . . . So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments’ (Zechariah 3:4, 5). Even so God will clothe you with ‘the garments of salvation,’ and cover you with ‘the robe of righteousness’ (Isaiah 61:10).”4
“There is nothing in us from which we can clothe the soul so that its nakedness shall not appear. We are to receive the robe of righteousness woven in the loom of heaven, even the spotless robe of Christ’s righteousness. We are to say, ‘He died for me. He bore my soul’s disgrace, that in His name I might be an overcomer and be exalted to His throne.’ Tell of His power, sing of His matchless love. In every trial He will be near you and will give grace and power according to your need.”5
To trust in one’s own righteousness would be like seeking shelter from the scorching sun by thinking to hide beneath one’s own shadow. Even if we would stoop down to the very ground, our shadow would always be beneath us. It is only under the shadow of an object higher than ourselves - such as a wide-spreading tree or stately cliff - that we can find shelter from the midday sun.
Mere human merit is worth nothing. Christ alone - who is infinitely higher than we are - is able to cover and save all who come to God by Him.
“The white robe of innocence was worn by our first parents when they were placed by God in holy Eden. They lived in perfect conformity to the will of God. . . . A beautiful soft light, the light of God, enshrouded the holy pair.”6
This covering is ready and available for all who are willing to be led by Jesus, and here is the proof:
“God has made ample provision that we may stand perfect in His grace, wanting in nothing, waiting for the appearing of our Lord. Are you ready? Have you the wedding garment on? That garment will never cover deceit, impurity, corruption, or hypocrisy. The eye of God is upon you. It is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. We may conceal our sins from the eyes of men, but we can hide nothing from our Maker.”7
Therefore what we need is to take all the initiatives given by God in the scriptures. “And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure” (1 John 3:3). “Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
“There is a heaven before us, a crown of life to win. But to the overcomer only is the reward given. He who gains heaven must be clothed with the robe of righteousness. ‘Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure’ (1 John 3:3). In the character of Christ there was no discord of any kind. And this must be our experience. Our lives must be controlled by the principles that controlled His life.”8
The prophecy is given: “Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honour to him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and his wife hath made herself ready. And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints” (Revelation 19:7, 8).
“By the wedding garment . . . is represented the pure, spotless character which Christ’s true followers will possess. . . . It is the righteousness of Christ, His own unblemished character, that through faith is imparted to all who receive Him as their personal Saviour.”9
The parable of the wedding garment in Matthew 22 reminds us that this garment is a mandatory requirement for the kingdom of heaven.
“The death of Christ on the cross of Calvary is our only hope in this world, and it will be our theme in the world to come. Oh, we do not comprehend the value of the atonement! If we did, we would talk more about it. The gift of God in His beloved Son was the expression of an incomprehensible love. It was the utmost that God could do to preserve the honor of His law and still save the transgressor. Why should man not study the theme of redemption? It is the greatest subject that can engage the human mind. If men would contemplate the love of Christ, displayed in the cross, their faith would be strengthened to appropriate the merits of His shed blood, and they would be cleansed and saved from sin. There are many who will be lost because they depend on legal religion, or mere repentance for sin. But repentance for sin alone cannot work the salvation of any soul. Man cannot be saved by his own works. Without Christ it is impossible for him to render perfect obedience to the law of God; and heaven can never be gained by an imperfect obedience; for this would place all heaven in jeopardy, and make possible a second rebellion.”10
“When we submit ourselves to Christ, the heart is united with His heart, the will is merged in His will, the mind becomes one with His mind, the thoughts are brought into captivity to Him; we live His life. This is what it means to be clothed with the garment of His righteousness. . . .
“Righteousness is rightdoing, and it is by their deeds that all will be judged. Our characters are revealed by what we do.
“Let the youth and the little children be taught to choose for themselves that royal robe woven in heaven’s loom - the ‘fine linen, clean and white,’ which all the holy ones of earth will wear. This robe, Christ’s own spotless character, is freely offered to every human being. But all who receive it will receive and wear it here.”11
Clothed in the glorious apparel of Christ’s righteousness, these holy ones have a place at the King’s feast. They have a right to join the blood-washed throng.
“It is privilege of the children of God to be filled with all the fullness of God. “Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, unto him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end” (Ephesians 3:20, 21).”12
“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; to declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus” (Romans 3:24-26).
Just as in the story of the Good Samaritan, a man was robbed and stripped of his clothes, so, after their trangression, Adam and Eve “were naked, for the garment of light and security had departed from them.”13 We are not altogether hopeless; we are given a chance to reclaim this wonderful robe at no cost to us - it is all on Jesus. If you don’t believe me, just ask the prophet Isaiah who urges us to buy without money and without price. (Isaiah 55:1). Just ask John the Revelator who quotes the saying of the Lord, “Buy of me . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear” (Revelation 3:18).
The raiment offered is the righteousness of Christ. It is a garment of light, which will attract the world to Christ. This will clothe all the redeemed who are living on the earth when Christ appears. It is a reflection of the holiness of God, and it comes only to him, who lives in constant communication with the Lord of life. The life of him who is in touch with heaven is like the glow of the incandescent light. When this counsel is heeded, the loud cry of Revelation 18:1 will sound throughout the world.
The glory of God which had rested upon our first parents, and its holy light which had clothed them as with a garment, departed with the advent of sin. As a result of their guilt and shame, they became afraid of God and hid themselves from His presence. When innocent, they had loved to be with Him, but sin separates the soul from God, and fills it with a dread of His approach. Righteousness, on the other hand, binds the soul to God, delights in the fullness of His presence, and basks in the sunlight of His divine glory.
The answer is a clear and resounding Yes! “Righteousness within is testified to by righteousness without. He who is righteous within is not hardhearted and unsympathetic, but day by day he grows into the image of Christ, going on from strength to strength. He who is being sanctified by the truth will be self-controlled and will follow in the footsteps of Christ until grace is lost in glory.”14
“When we are clothed with the righteousness of Christ, we shall have no relish for sin; for Christ will be working with us. We may make mistakes, but we will hate the sin that caused the sufferings of the Son of God.”15
“When a man is converted to God, a new moral taste is created; and he loves the things that God loves; for his life is bound up by the golden chain of the immutable promises, to the life of Jesus. His heart is drawn out after God. His prayer is, ‘Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law’ (Psalm 119:18). In the immutable standard he sees the character of the Redeemer and knows that, though he has sinned, he is not to be saved in his sins but from his sins; for Jesus is the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of the world.”16
“The remnant church will be brought into great trial and distress. Those who keep the commandments of God and the faith of Jesus will feel the ire of the dragon and his hosts. Satan numbers the world as his subjects; he has gained control of the apostate churches. But here is a little company that are resisting his supremacy.”17
Dear brethren and sisters, Christ’s victory is clear and sure. Bright crowns are awaiting us. Will you and I be able to help secure this victory? Let us by the grace of Christ allow His character to be perfectly reproduced in us, and the world gazing on will see Christ in you, the hope of glory. (Colossians 1:27.) John the Revelator saw this group standing on Mount Zion with their Father’s name written in their foreheads and no guile in their mouths. These follow the Lamb wherever He goes. May this be our prayer. Amen.