HOW INDIFFERENCE AFFECTS JESUS "I counsel thee to buy of me . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed . . . " -- Tomorrow:
"I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth." (Rev 3:14-22)
Devotion 13 of 20
Although the church in Laodicea declared it was "rich and increased in goods," it stood "naked" before the Lord, like the guilty pair in Eden! It was not covered in the righteousness of Christ, but only held earthly distinction. Now Jesus counsels them to "buy" "white raiment" from Him so they can really be clothed. You will recall that God, before expelling Adam Eve from the Garden, made "coats of skins and clothed them" (Gen 3:21). Only then were they thrust out into the world, to live in preparation for the final confrontation.
Those who imagine that Jesus does not care what we wear must consider this. The days in which we live have sought to dignify walking about unkempt and sloppy in appearance, often displaying an inordinate amount of the flesh. While soft-spoken novices tell us God doesn't care what we wear, we must face the fact that the first issue of appearance that God had with men and women was their clothing (Gen 3:21).
However, there is another kind of clothing that is the focus of our text. The manner in which the subject is approached presumes there is a parallel in the matter of outward clothing. If the Lord really has no care for what men wear outwardly, then this passage makes no sense. He would never speak in this manner if there was not an association for men to make that sheds light on the subject. God looks intently upon the attire, or lack thereof, of OUR SOULS – our unseen part. He looks for the "garments of salvation" and the "robe of righteousness" (Isa 61:10), both of which have to do with the invisible part of men. Those alone can cover the nakedness of the soul!
The church in Laodicea had started their pilgrimage by "putting on Christ," as do all believers (Gal 3:27). But somewhere along the way, they put Him off, choosing to satisfy themselves by drawing from "all that is in the world" (1 John 2:15-17). They discarded the "robe of righteousness" and the clothing of "humility" for the "cloak of covetousness" (Isa 61:10; 1 Thess 2:5; 1 Pet 5:5). Now they must "buy" what they had once received freely, but had since abandoned. They would have to discard their present coverings to again obtain the "garments of salvation." They would have to pay a price – to lose something they presently considered valuable – to obtain this required clothing.
Scripture makes clear that this "white raiment" refers to the holiness of the saints. "And to her (the church) was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints" (Rev 19:8). Jesus promises such clothing to all who overcome (Rev 3:6). How is it, then, that He counsels the church in Laodicea to "buy" it now? Because salvation begins now – in this world. If we do not appropriate the righteousness of God by faith here, we will not enjoy the fulness of it there! Jesus referred to this principle when He said, "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" (Matt 5:6). Participation in the righteousness of God begins here; it will be consummated there.
Let it be clear, those who become defiled after they were once cleansed and made righteous, must "buy" "white raiment" from Jesus. They must again come to Christ, acknowledging their departure from Him, and yield up what they have to be clean in His sight. Surely you know, "Nothing impure will ever enter it (the glorified church), nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life" (Rev 21:27). Too, if a longing for purity is not realized in this world, the reality of it will not be experienced in "the world to come."
Many a congregation today is in the position of the church in Laodicea, yet has no messenger to sound the alarm. They stand naked before the Lord, covered only with moral fig leaves of their own making. Like Joshua the high priest, they stand before the Almighty arrayed in "filthy garments" (Zech 3:3). Because Joshua chose to stand before the Lord, instead of glorying in himself, he experienced the obtainment of new clothing. The "filthy garments" were taken away, and he was given a "change of raiment." This is what Jesus wants for all who wear His name – but they must stand before Him, to "buy" from Him "white raiment" that will survive the test of Divine scrutiny.
A quest for righteousness is not common in the Western churches. This is not a good condition. The absence of a hunger and thirst for righteousness contradicts any profession of association with Christ Jesus. It betrays a condition Jesus calls "naked," and must be remedied this side of our departure from this world. Again, I emphasize that this righteousness is procured only from Christ. The Apostle Paul expressed his driving compulsion to be clothed in righteousness in Philippians 3:8-11. "Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in Him, not having my own righteousness, which is from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which is from God by faith; that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death, if, by any means, I may attain to the resurrection from the dead."
This is the activity to which Jesus is calling the church in Laodicea. Perhaps He is similarly calling to you also.
PRAYER POINT: Father, in the name of Jesus, grant me grace to be arraigned in spiritual garments that are acceptable to you – garments You alone can provide.