Obedience is Key

We all consider the Lord to be our Rock, our Foundation. We all piously embrace the analogy of building our lives upon the foundation of Jesus Christ. We all assume that since we claim Jesus as Lord then we have done all that is required to have the Rock under us that will never allow our house to be washed away by the storm.

However, there is a key component which seems to be overlooked in Jesus' parable as told in Luke 6:46-49.  He is very clear in His introduction, yet we skim past the point. "Why do you call me Lord, Lord and do not do the things I say?" Ouch!

"I will show you what someone is like who comes to Me, hears My words, and ACTS on them:" We are then told that he is like a man who digs down and builds his house on a solid foundation.

In contrast, we are told in verse 49, "But he who merely hears and does not practice doing My words is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation, against which the torrent burst, and immediately it collapsed and fell, and the breaking and ruin of that house was great."

The difference is in the doing.

But, to what is He referring when He says, "My words?" The key is in the previous verses. His analogy immediately follows the "Sermon on the Mount." In it we are given instructions on Holy living. We are instructed to be Holy as He is Holy, and here we are told how.

Many studies could be written on each of His teaching here, but for the sake of this writing it is sufficient to say obedience is the key.

We are further told four times in John 14 that if we love Him we will keep His commands. Clearly, He takes our obedience seriously, as it is an indication to Him of our love for Him.

But why? Because obedience is a sign or marker of our trust in Him or our faith. If we don't trust Him or believe Him, we will not do what He tells us. If we trust Him to be who He says He is and do what He says He can do, then obedience will follow. We will be accutely aware that He desires the best for us and so, even if we do not understand why, we will be obedient to follow His commands.

How frustrating it is to observe in our own children the lack of faith in us required to obey.  Often they stop and consider whether our intentions for them are what they should desire for themselves. However, they are extremely short-sighted and want what they want right now. As their parent, we are more aware of the long-term goals or consequences for them. They may want to eat cake for breakfast, because it is good right now. We as parents know that having cake for breakfast is not healthy and will have consequences later.

So too, our Father in Heaven knows the beginning from the end. He knows what is best for us long-term. Our Father knows not only how our bodies and our spyches work, but also how our spirit works and matures, and He wants the best for us. He desires to grow us and matures us.

Obedience requires submission. He says to us in the Luke account, "Why do you call me Lord, Lord..." He is asking why we consider Him Lord and Master, yet we have not sumitted to Him in obedience. We cannot grow strong and build on a sure foundation without submitting to obedience to His commands.

Ours is a God of "If...then." IF a person loves Me THEN he will keep My commandments; THEN I will reveal Myself to him; THEN he will be loved by the Father; THEN we will come and build our home with you.

Obedience is the key.

Are Your Garments Spotless?

Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing pow’r?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Refrain:
Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul-cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless? Are they white as snow?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you walking daily by the Savior’s side?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Do you rest each moment in the Crucified?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

When the Bridegroom cometh will your robes be white?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?
Will your soul be ready for the mansions bright,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Lay aside the garments that are stained with sin,
And be washed in the blood of the Lamb;
There’s a fountain flowing for the soul unclean,
Oh, be washed in the blood of the Lamb!

            Elisha A. Hoffman, 1878

Wow! Such a clear reference to the “right clothing” offered through Christ.

In addition to the symbolism alluding to righteousness, we also see bold references to the cleansing power of the blood of the Lamb; another facet of the gem that is God’s Word.  Once again, from Genesis to Revelation the message of God does not change. Our God is Faithful and unchanging.

The cleansing power of the blood is fascinating to me as well. Ok, it’s ALL fascinating, but…(see next post “The Soul Cleansing Power of the Blood.” Tomorrow, Lord willing.)

Clothing Fit for the King - Part 2

There are several more scriptures that refer to righteousness in terms of clothing. For example, “Consider the lilies of the field how they grow…Now if God so clothes the grass of the field which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you?” Matthew 6:28. Yes, it is meant literally, God will literally provide us clothing, but He is also speaking spiritually as Jesus follows it by saying “Seek first the kingdom of God and His RIGHTEOUSNESS (His right clothing) and all these things shall be added to you.” Beautiful?!

We are also instructed by Paul to “Strip yourselves of your former nature…and put on the new nature (the regenerate self) created in God’s image, [Godlike] in true RIGHTEOUSNESS and holiness.” Ephesians 4:22,24.

In 2 Corinthians 5 we find, “. ² For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, ³ if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked.”

I LOVE this one:

¹⁰ I will greatly rejoice in the LORD,     My soul shall be joyful in my God;
      For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation,
      He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,
      As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments,
      And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. Is 61:10

And finally, 9 times the book of Rev refers to white robes or garments of the saints. “In verse 11 (of chapter 6) it is revealed that the white robes given unto every one of the martyrs are symbolic of righteousness.” Walvoord, John F. The Revlation of Jesus Christ. Chicago: Moody Press, 1966.

From Genesis to Revelation, God is reminding us that we are to be clothed in righteousness, in clean white robes.  And, when we fall and soil our garments, we have a Great High Priest whose blood can cleanse our unrighteousness.

But that is a subject for another day…Perhaps tomorrow? Lord willing! J

Clothing Fit for the King

In “Great Truths From God’s Word – Old Testament Survey,” Dr. Harold Willmington tells us that the word righteousness literally means “right clothing.” When first I read that, I thought it was a bit odd. It made no sense to me. But think about it…

In Matthew 22 we read the parable of the Wedding Feast.  In it Jesus describes the king who had arranged a marriage and invited certain guests. The guests all asked to be excused for one reason or another. Finally, the king told the servants to go out to the highways and byways and bring in anyone who would come so that his courts would be filled.

That seems as though it should be the end of the parable, yet Christ continues saying, “¹¹ “But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. ¹² So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’ And he was speechless. ¹³ Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ ¹⁴ “For many are called, but few are chosen.” Matthew 22:11-14.

That seems a bit rash, however, custom of the day was that the host of a wedding feast provided the garment for the guests. As Jesus tells us, “this is what the kingdom of heaven is like…” Ergo, the King of Kings has provided for us the “right clothing,” or the righteousness to be worn at the wedding feast of the Lamb! GLORY to GOD!

There are MANY references to the right clothing of God. Once you have this reference in your mind, each time you see righteousness think right clothing and prepare to be amazed!

Two more stand out to me…

The first is in the book of 1 Samuel.  In Chapter 18, David and Jonathan take an oath of friendship. They use the ancient custom of exchanging clothing as a symbol of their covenant. As Beth Moore describes in her study “A Heart Like His,” imagine, if you will, David standing there in Jonathan’s royal robes. He probably felt very regal; after all he had already been told he would be king. He may have felt as though he deserved to wear them, until he looked at Jonathan wearing his smelly, dirty shepherd’s garb.  What a picture of Christ, He took our smelly sin stained clothing in exchange for His royal wedding robes!!!  Can you IMAGINE!? Selah!

The second comes from the book of Revelation. To the church of Sardis, the Dead Church, Jesus writes, “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. ⁵ He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments.”(Rev 3:4-5)

Do you see? When we believe, we are given His royal clothes to seal the covenant! We are given His righteousness! We are responsible until then to not soil our garments. We are given His righteousness and are not to tarnish it. If we do, we should immediately confess and repent in order to not wear our unrighteousness. 

Further, In Rev 3:18, He tells the church of Laodicea, “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.” If we are not clothed in His righteousness, we stand naked before Him. Remember Adam and Eve? The first thing they noticed when they sinned is that they were naked, and they were ashamed.  They needed the right clothing that only God could provide and only by the shedding of innocent blood. In order to cover our spiritual nakedness, Christ shed His blood on the cross to provide for us the covenant of righteousness, without which we cannot attend the Wedding Feast of the Lamb.

Isn’t He amazing?

But wait! There’s more… tune in tomorrow!