Christian Living

ARE YOUR GARMENTS CLEAN?

By Paul Taylor

A little boy who was waiting, and anticipating the soon  return of his father from a long journey got carried away in his own little world, putting the return partially to the side, believing he would have ample time to tidy up and be prepared to welcome home his father, and be waiting to greet him, but the child had gotten so engrossed in the things he enjoyed, that he forgot about his father coming home. He was startled and surprised as his father unexpectedly walked in and found the boy surrounded by scattered toys. clothes and an unkempt room.

Luke 21:34-36 And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. 35 For as a snare shall it come on all them that dwell on the face of the whole earth. 36 Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.

My opening anecdote and the preceding verses from Luke are a solemn reminder that we are to be vigilant and prepared in our wait for the soon return of Jesus. Most Christians are so into the world of personal satisfaction, entertainment, sports, accumulating wealth, etc., that they, like the little boy are completely distracted, and will be caught by surprise with all their filthy garments of worldly living surrounding them in total shame before the Lord, and like the five virgins, will be shut out from the marriage supper with Jesus, and lost forever.

Jesus warns us many times throughout the Bible to be prepared, watch, and wait, for you know not what hour He cometh. We listen to the weather forecasters and make preparations for approaching storms or bad weather, yet, most fail to heed the warnings in the Bible of impending perils which are beginning to increase in magnitude, volcanic activities, earthquakes, severe and deadly weather, new and deadlier diseases, civil uprising across the globe, unprecedented violence against children and parents, complete disregard of civil as well as moral laws. I could go on, but I hope you get the picture that things are rapidly deteriorating around the world on a massive scale, and our own nation is now on the verge of complete civil disorder and chaos.

If you are a Christian, then I plead with you to examine your lifestyle against what the Bible says, not what man says. Just because you are a member of a church, been baptized, anointed, or what ever other ritual you go through, that is not a guarantee of eternal life. If you are not a Christian, pick up the Bible, begin reading, and may I suggest you start with the book of John, read it and then read it again as it will open your eyes as to who Jesus is and what He desires of us as His followers.

Two verses of scripture come to mind as I close, and they can be found in Revelation and the book of James as a reminder of what type of life we should live in preparing for the return of Jesus. God said we are to be a peculiar people, different from the world, we are to stand out as a light unto the world. Friends, we have to live in this world, but we don’t have to be a part of the world.

Rev.16:15 Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame.

James 5:2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten.

May God add a blessing to the going forth of His word and may those reading be convicted and repent.
Paul Taylor
July 7, 2020