A Promise to the Faithful

Yet you have a few people in Sardis who have not soiled their clothes. They will walk with me, dressed in white, for they are worthy. The one who is victorious will, like them, be dressed in white. I will never blot out the name of that person from the book of life, but will acknowledge that name before my Father and his angels. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.

Rev 3:4-6

Now a promise is given to those in the church at Sardis who are faithful to the Lord. White garments are a symbol of redemption. In Revelation 7 we read of a great multitude of people who come out of the great tribulation and have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb (Revelation 7:14). Clearly, white garments are a sign of being redeemed, being saved by the grace of God. These are said to be worthy, not because they have lived good moral lives, but because they had washed away their sins in the blood of the Lamb. They were worthy because God imparted to them the righteousness of Christ. This is the gift which he gives to all who come by faith to him. You need no longer to try to earn your way into a good relationship with God. You can never do so, but you are given it by believing his Word and receiving his forgiveness. The Lord promises these people three specific things:

First, they will be dressed in white; i.e., they will be given his own righteousness. Many hymns reflect this great truth:

Jesus, thy blood and righteousness
My beauty are, my glorious dress;
'Midst flaming worlds, in these arrayed,
With joy shall I lift up my head.

Second, he promises: I will never blot out his name from the book of life. That promise bothers many people because they think it implies that some can be blotted out of the book of life. But the Lord does not say anything about anyone's name being blotted out. His words are simply assuring that those who trust him will never be blotted out. He is addressing the fears of the redeemed. Many Christians are troubled by the thought that perhaps they can lose their salvation. Sometimes when we have done things we are ashamed of, we ask ourselves, Am I no longer a Christian? Have I lost my salvation? Our Lord knows that, and he is here reassuring such. No, you need not be disturbed. If you are really a believer, I will never blot out your name from the book of life. That word never, is the strongest negative in the Greek language. It should be translated, I will never, ever, under any circumstances, blot out your name from the book of life. What wonderful reassurance!

On the contrary, says Jesus, I will acknowledge you before my Father and the angels in heaven. This is the third thing. When we arrive in glory, our lives will be visible to everybody. Jesus tells us, That which you have done in secret will be shouted from the house tops (Luke 12:3 KJV). Everything is wide open; no aspect of life can be hidden away. Knowing that, many of us are a little afraid to appear in glory. We know truths about ourselves that we do not want known. But Jesus says, When you stand there with your entire record exposed for everybody to see, I will look at you and say, You are mine. I will acknowledge your name before the Father and all his angels. This sinner, this defiled person — I want the universe to know — he is mine!

Thank you, Father, for these ringing words of assurance: I have security in my Lord Jesus, he holds me by his mighty hand, and I shall never perish but have eternal life as he has promised. Amen.