We’ll examine the final verses in Revelation 3. After calling the believers back to godly living, Jesus says: “Yet there are some in the church in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes with evil. They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.” (Revelation 3:4 NLT)
Notice the words “soiled their clothes.” Elsewhere in Scripture, the Apostle Paul also writes in such terms about preparing ourselves for the presence of God: “…Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1 NKJV).
Jesus is correcting the course of the church with a call to return to godly living. He urges them not to soil the clothing of the flesh and spirit by maintaining ungodly lifestyles. However, remember, these words wouldn’t be in our Bibles if they didn’t apply to us. So listen to Jesus’s concluding words:
“All who are victorious will be clothed in white. I will never erase their names from the Book of Life, but I will announce before my Father and his angels that they are mine. Anyone with ears to hear must listen to the Spirit and understand what he is saying to the churches.” (Revelation 3:5–6 NLT)
To have your name erased from the Book of Life is quite a serious matter. Yet these words are straight from our Savior’s mouth, and they are well worth heeding.
It is so important that we listen and pay careful attention to what the Spirit of God speaks through the written Word of God. Let’s not overlook statements like the ones in Revelation 3—even though they may not line up with what we currently believe or what is commonly taught. If we want to live in a manner that honors God, we must stay in His Word, and we must allow it to correct us so that we can stay on course.
This is an unshakeable truth: God has made us righteous; we could never do anything to earn our position of justification in Christ. However, according to these scriptures and many others, a corresponding lifestyle of godly behavior is obviously very important in God’s eyes.
Why do you think this is? What difference does it make for us to live righteously?
