Revelation 3:1-6 – “To the angel of the church in Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead. 2 Wake up! Strengthen what remains and is about to die, for I have found your deeds unfinished in the sight of my God.3 Remember, therefore, what you have received and heard; hold it fast, and repent. But if you do not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what time I will come to you. 4 Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. 5 The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. 6 Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.
“Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy.” The Lord now returns to the remmant who have not soiled their clothes. When things look their bleakest the Lord has some who remain faithful. Noah and his family were a small remnant that remained faithful (Genesis 7:1). God used Joseph to preserve for Himself a remnant (Genesis 45:7, 50:20). 2 Kings 17:17 shows the preservation of the tribe of Judah. Simeon was a faithful remnant who devoutly was looking for the Messiah to be born (Luke 2:25). God declared that even during New Testament times a remnant of Israel was saved (Romans 9:27). God always has His remnant. Though the world is always resisting and pushing away from God, Family, we cling to Him who first clung to us, we are God’s remnant.
God’s remnant seeks Him. They pursue Him. In New Testament times we follow Jesus who continually purifies us from the world (1 John 1:9). God has always called to the world and there has always a remnant of people who cling to Him. Though, compared to the numbers of the world, are number is small (Matthew 7:14), we are those whose resist the things of the world and who cling to the Lord. We may not seem like many, but we know and have the Truth. We are God’s remnant, watched over and kept by God Himself. Praise God!
Here we should not view “for they are worthy” as if we have merited our clean clothes, as if we have earned them, but rather that we have been washed clean by the blood of Jesus and we remain in love with, and faithful to, our Lord Jesus. He keeps us clean and our “clothes” are only white because of Him (John 1:7, Isaiah 1:18, Psalm 51:7, Hebrews 10:22).
“The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels.” Praise God that Jesus has here declared that He will never blot out from the book of life one who is victorious through Him. From Revelation 13:8 we read that only those who belong to Jesus are in His book of life. Remembering that Jesus is not speaking to the unfaithful, the non-victorious, but to those who have remained faithful. He states that these who have the victory through Him, and who have remained faithful, will never have their names blotted from His book of life. Jesus will happily proclaim to the Father that we are His. Praise the Lord!
Again let us remember that God is not frivolous in His words. Why would the Lord bring up something that is impossible? The Lord says what He means and means what He says. If the Lord says He will not do it for some, then He means it is also possible for Him to do it. Why would He say that He will not do what He could not do to those who do not finish their race (V2). He has here said that He will not do to the victorious what He will do to those who do not wake up. V13:8 shows that only those who have belonged to the Lamb of God are written in the book of life. In this letter He warns those who once had life and are now becoming dead. Read the meaning. It is clear. But Family, we are not such people. We walk in confidence because God is faithful and never lies. He said He will never leave us or forsake us and so we cling to Him who, and most importantly, clings tightly to us. Who shall separate us from the love of God? No other person, no other thing, no other being can do that. He loves us eternally, praise God!
“Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Jesus, again, makes it clear that He is addressing all believers and we all should heed. We who shall be found with clothing that is washed pure by the blood of Jesus. We shall be victorious because it is He who assures it. We continue to love Him who first loved us. Evermore shall we be found with Him. Praise the Lord!
Psalm 150:6 – Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!
Micah 7:7 – But as for me, I watch in hope for the Lord, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.
Micah 6:8 – He has shown You, O man, what is good; And what does the Lord require of You but to do justly, to love mercy, And to walk humbly with Your God.