White is for War

In the book of Revelation white robes are the garb of warriors. Jesus tells the Church in Sardis that if they stay pure, their garments will be white, and he who overcomes will be clothed in white. When the fifth seal is opened, John sees the souls of those who have been slain for the word of God, and a white robe is given to each of them. Then John sees a multitude which no one could number of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes. When John asks where they all came from, one of the elders explains that they came through the great tribulation and made their robes white through the blood of the Lamb. Finally, John sees Jesus riding down out of heaven on a white horse, clothed in a robe that has been dipped in blood, and the armies in heaven follow after Him, clothed in fine, linen, white and clean, riding on white horses.

This last week we heard and saw a glimpse of that great army riding into battle. Twenty-one of our Egyptian brothers were beheaded on a beach in Libya. They overcame, and now they have exchanged their orange jumpsuits for white robes washed in the blood of the Lamb.

Lent is an annual reminder that Christians are at war. We are at war with all sin, all darkness, all evil. This is not because Christians need to go looking for conflict. Rather, the Bible teaches that sin and evil is already at war with us. Peter says, “Beloved, I beg you as sojourners and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul… (1 Pet. 2:11). You do not need to go looking for battle; if you have a pulse, the battle has already come to you. The weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ (2 Cor. 10:4-5).

As we go to confession, confess your sins, but also take this moment to meditate on where Jesus calls you to the battle, and ask Him for grace and wisdom and courage so that you too might overcome.