Thinking in 3’s - Revelation 3:5 - Full Acceptance

Thinking in 3’s - Revelation 3:5 - Full Acceptance

John transcribes a letter to the church at Sardis from Jesus. It is a sleepy church. They have not been working hard on the mission that the church has received from Jesus. And yet, the promises at the end of this letter contain great promises of full acceptance.

“The one who conquers will be clothed thus in white garments.”

The white garment shows that one has been accepted into a select community. The student in marching band receives a uniform, and there is no confusion about the group to which she belongs (one would not likely wear a getup like that for no reason). The white garment, of course, speaks of much more. White is the color of righteousness or purity, and it replaces that which is soiled and stained (remember the prophet Joshua). We should also notice here that “the one who conquers” does not clothe himself, but is clothed by Christ. And, the righteousness or purity that becomes ours is not from ourselves, but from Him.

“I will never blot his name out of the book of life.”

Those who are truly alive (spiritually) will be truly alive forever. When God gives us a new heart (in the new covenant), He does not reach in and take it back again. He does not abandon His adopted child. This is such an important truth, and our phrase states it so powerfully. “I will never.” This runs counter to our feelings and our sense of what is right. We often disappoint ourselves, and even more, we are sure that we are a disappointment to God. We would think it right that, in the face of that disappointment, God might give up on us, since sometimes we want to give up on ourselves. But He does not. Here He promises that He will not.

“I will confess his name before my Father and before his angels.”

When our child graduates from high school or college, we sit in a large crowd and wait, and wait to hear their name called out as they walk across a platform (at least in those years when there is not a pandemic). That’s the moment. We want to hear their name called. I never expect to hear my name called in the greatest forums on this earth, whether it be lofty educational institutions or national award shows or on international platforms. But this verse tells us that our name, yes, your name, will be called out on a stage far greater than the Grammys. Your name will be confessed in the court of heaven, before the King of the universe and His heavenly host. “He’s mine,” Jesus will say. “He’s one of Yours,” Jesus will say to the Father. 

Why? Not because of our own selves. But because God, through Christ, bestows on us full acceptance.