Just like everything else in the entire plan of Salvation
God enacted, even our final set of clothing will be a gift from Him. The last set of clothes we will ever wear
will be literal Robes made of light (Yes, I’m sure most people think “white”
robes, but light includes a great many more colors than just that. I may prefer polka dots for example). I am certain these final coverings will be
functional as well as practical. And
best of all, like any other clothing we wear, they represent something. They represent VICTORY. Not ours, but His.
This is the reason why you can’t explain HOW the sin leaves
you when it does. It is because you are
NOT doing the work of removal, Christ is.
He knows, because He does it. He
does it FOR you. He does not need your
help in this process, He needs your permission.
And likewise with the Robes He intends to give you that symbolize
victory, the victories will all be His, though you may well be the main
benefactor of each one. As each sin is
removed from your life, you experience an ever rising sensation of freedom,
liberation, and joy. It is Christ doing
the work of removal, but you enjoying what He has done FOR you. His victory - For you.
Notice scripture never asks you to make the Robes. Scripture never puts a price on them that you
can pay. Christ paid it in blood. You can’t steal them, or fake wearing them. No counterfeit knockoffs here, only original
designer models made as uniquely as snowflakes, retinal scans, DNA, or
fingerprints. No two are alike, and yet
each one has meaning. Just like the rest
of His creations – no two are alike and each one has a special and unique
purpose. Our final Robes will come with
a few accessories, like a new unique name, a ring, a crown, and even a harp we
will somehow know how to play. Sorry no
mention of halo’s I can find anywhere, nor of clouds from what I can see.
The city itself is described as being about 360 miles
square, or should I say cubed, as it is as high as it is wide. I imagine, God the Father sits on His throne
at the city’s pinnacle, though I wonder how often He sits there and how often
He is personally engaged elsewhere. The
12 pearl gates to the city bare 12 different names, and the foundation is
layered on 12 different gemstones. The
streets are made of Gold, and perhaps as U2 puts it, have no names. As we walk these streets of gold, we realize
that Heaven sees our most sought after jewelry, as mere concrete. Worth no more than the gravel that
accompanies our earthly streets of today, or the mud along the trails of
yesteryear. But Heaven sure puts a
premium on its citizens.
In addition to our clothing and accessories, we are each to
have a mansion. Given our 21st
century understanding of architecture in large cities, I would aptly rename
this … a penthouse apartment. More than
enough for any single individual while taking advantage of the height
dimensions of the city as well. My guess
is that we will store whatever belongings we acquire or build in Heaven in our
homes there. But I would also guess the
number of those belongings will be sparse, as the real interest in eternity
will be in the people who surround us.
Each one will have a unique story about how Jesus saved them from the
evil in their lives. While unfallen
angels have the advantage of never having had the cancer of evil, they also
cannot understand the feeling of having been cured of it either. In this scripture states even the angels will
bend their wings in awe of the love of our Creator.
It is poignant that while we wear Robes of His Righteousness
the wounds in His hands, side, and feet will remain with Him for eternity. It is why we so often cast down our crowns at
His feet as He alone is worthy. We know
we wear only His gifts – nothing have we earned. We reap the benefits of His love, not of our
efforts. Love alone redeemed us. Love alone saved us. And it is Love we will study throughout
eternity ever mindful of the scars He carries that mark our freedom.
There will be no competition in Heaven regarding the style,
originality, fabric, rareness, or uniqueness of our clothing. Each one will have what is perfectly suited
to them, perfectly created by our Lord, for each individual. And I imagine like all human beings share
certain characteristics with no two exactly alike, our clothing will be much
the same. It will share commonality and
practicality but still allow for the uniqueness of each person, each
individual. And yet once there, I doubt
we ever give it a second thought.
How often here on earth we put value in things that have no
real value. How often do women lament
over having just the right thing to wear to that special occasion. They want to look just right, and they are
hoping their clothing will help them accomplish this goal. Net result: an entire fashion industry that
fosters pride, and competition, and a hunger that simply cannot be satisfied on
this earth. How much time, money, and
expense have gone into trying to make women look their best here on planet
earth. While in heaven our bodies are
regenerated into the perfection God intended, removing the effects that evil
left us scarred with. Perfect skin,
perfect hair, perfect nails, perfect weight, perfect health, and perfect
clothing. I suppose having achieved
perfection it will be quite easy not to ever give it a second thought again,
though I recon the death of pride may have more to do with that, than simply
achieving the goals of perfection.
It is funny that Love is also much like humanity. It shares broad characteristics, but is
uniquely applied. I believe that while
we will all love everyone we encounter in the new world, there will still be a
place for unique applications of love. I
believe we will still honor the relationships we have with our parents, our
siblings, our children, our spouses (post adjustments made by God), and our
friends. Having a special love does not
negate other types of love. Nor is it
impossible to have more than one kind of special love. For instance, we love all of our children
equally (in terms of volume), but differently because of the personalities of
each one. I do not believe that
relationships and models we have here will simply become null and void in
heaven. Love is universal, yet love is
unique, just like each of us.
I hope to one day wear the Robes my Lord has prepared for
me. It will be my honor, to take on
clothing that marks His victories on my behalf.
I pray only that He conquers ALL the carnal nature in me, perfectly
submits my will to His own, and in so doing, saves me completely both from evil
and from me. I know there is no other
way I can ever wear those Robes …
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