White Linen

Sunday, 09 Mar 2003

Could it be true that the white linen we see on this earth is similar to the white linen that we will see in heaven? I don't know...I imagine the white linen of heaven to be the brightest white we will have ever seen. I mean, our white linen here has flaws and imperfections and stains on it a lot of times. The white linen of heaven will be spotless, as we will be, washed clean of all our imperfections as we're prepared to meet the Lamb of God at the wedding feast!

In Revelations it says:

"Let us be glad and rejoice and honor him. For the time has come for the wedding feast of the Lamb, and his bride has prepared herself. She is permitted to wear the finest white linen."
(Fine linen represents the good deeds done by the people of God.)
Rev. 19:7-8
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I was thinking about this because we attended a birthday party yesterday. It seemed to us like it would probably be a simple affair. Some friends gathering to wish a special someone a Happy Birthday. Perhaps some cake and ice cream would be served, with the candles being blown out as usual. But as we arrived at this party, we saw the Caterers through the front window... We were suddenly aware of what we had chosen to wear to this "simple" party. Was it appropriate?

Entering the house, we were warmly greeted and then we made our way to the backyard to say hello to some friends who had already arrived. As we stepped onto the patio we were astonished with what we saw! The most beautiful display of colorful tulips adorning numerous round tables with white linen tablecloths. A white canopy tent covered the area, and white wooden chairs were around each table. The food was quickly being brought out by the caterers, not only to pass around to the guests who had arrived, but also to set on the table under the canopy for the dinner that we would soon be enjoying.

The guest of honor had not yet arrived since it was a surprise party, but I don't know who was going to be more surprised? Those who were attending this "simple" party, or the one celebrating her birthday?

Why were we so surprised? Because it is not often that you get invited to such a lavish occasion. Not at least in the world I live in! It is not often that a birthday party resembles a wedding feast, and I could not help but think about the feast in heaven one day, and how surprised we will be at the enormity of the occasion. Oh the beauty that our eyes will behold, with all the preparations that have been made to welcome us to the greatest feast of all times!

This birthday celebration got my attention and made me aware of all the preparations and the excitement that will be happening in heaven when we gather together at the wedding feast of the Lamb. It will be beyond what any of us could ever imagine! And when we arrive, we will be dressed correctly, because there is only one thing needed on that day...to be washed clean.

For I was born a sinner-
yes, from the moment my mother conceived me.
But you desire honesty from the heart,
so you can teach me to be wise in my inmost being.
Purify me from my sins,
and I will be clean:
Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.
Psalm 51:5-7
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Maybe that's what the white linen of heaven looks like. Freshly fallen snow that sparkles in the sunlight! That I can relate to! After many years of living in Germany, and many days spent in the Alps skiing, I have witnessed that beauty many times! It is a glorious sight!! There seems to be no flaw in it, as it has just fallen from the heavens and spreads across this earth like a giant robe. The earth being clothed in white. No matter the dirt, the rock, the stain, the terrain, the Father's white snow can cover it all and make it look brand new!

I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God!
For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation
and draped me in the robe of righteousness.
I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit
or a bride with her jewels.
Isaiah 61:10
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Can you imagine how overwhelmed we will be when we arrive at the wedding feast in heaven? To simply get a taste of that on this earth by arriving at a beautiful garden party adorned with white linen and a feast for a king, it stirs my thinking about all that God must have planned and all that Jesus has been waiting for since time began! There is nothing on this earth that will even compare to the celebration in heaven when our time on this earth is finished!

Revelations 19:9 says:
"Blessed are those who are invited to the wedding feast of the Lamb."
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Do you know who that is?
Did you get your invitation?

Then one of the twenty-four elders asked me,
"Who are these who are clothed in white?
Where do they come from?"
And I said to him,
"Sir, you are the one who knows."
Then he said to me, "These are the ones
coming out of the great tribulation.
They washed their robes in the blood of the Lamb
and made them white."
Revelation 7:13b-14
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We are all invited to wear white!
It's just that not all will decide they want to come!

Revelation 19:17
Then I saw an angel standing in the sun,
shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky:
"Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared."
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Many were invited to this birthday party yesterday, but not all came. Some had very good reasons for not being there, some might have simply been tired, or sick, or had previous engagements. They missed a great party, and they missed being treated like a king, but there will be other parties on this earth.

I was tired too. I had done a garage sale all morning, and I could have chosen to stay at home, put up my feet and read a good book. But, I didn't, and I am sure glad I was there!

When heaven calls our name, we better not be busy, or tired, or have any previous engagements! It is the invitation of a lifetime...literally! When an angel calls your name to come and gather for the great banquet God has prepared, you will not want to miss it!

As I looked around yesterday, I was surprised at some that were missing, and I was surprised by some who were there I did not know. Not surprised really, because I didn't expect to know everyone, but what caught my attention was that with the great banquet God is preparing in heaven, it will be the same. Those that are there will probably be surprised at who is missing and also who is there that they didn't expect to see...at least in our books. Not in God's Book of Life. He knows exactly who will be attending!

Nothing evil will be allowed to enter -
no one who practices shameful idolatry and dishonesty -
but only those whose names are written in the
Lamb's Book of Life.
Rev. 21:27
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God knows if you're coming!
You may not even know it yet!
But He knows!
Your name will be in the Book of Life!

Phil asked me shortly before he died if there really was a Book of Life. I read to him about it in the Bible. I'm sure he was pleased when he got to heaven and they checked the Book and found his name listed there. Yes, he was on the guest list because he believed. He accepted the eternal gift of salvation, and he was cleansed white as snow by Jesus Christ.

I thought about how great it will be when we find our seats at this great banquet and I get to sit right next to my son! For some reason I pictured him tall and strong and lean. Young, perhaps in his thirties...I don't know why. Just my thinkings...

Can you imagine the conversations that will be going on at that feast? The hugs and kisses!! All the reunions that will be taking place! All the friends and family who will be together again, or perhaps leaving this earth at the same time during the rapture when Jesus Christ comes back for all the believers! Can you imagine the joy that will be around those tables and the stories that will be shared about the journey that brought us all there? They could go on for eternity...I think they will!

Can you imagine what the Prime Rib roast will be like that they bring out to carve up for the guests? We all gasped at the one yesterday because of the size of it! It was delicious too! Will we be having roast in heaven, or some heavenly food we cannot even imagine?

In the story of the Prodigal Son in the Bible, it says upon his return home:

"Quick! Bring the finest robe in the house and put it on him.
Get a ring for his finger, and sandals for his feet.
And kill the calf we have been fattening in the pen.
We must celebrate with a feast, for this son
of mine was dead and has now returned to life.
He was lost, but now he is found."
So the party began.
Luke 15:22-24
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We are all prodigal children of God. We have all had our times doing our own thing, but when we decide to turn back towards home, God prepares for our arrival. He is happy to have us back, or maybe "home" for the first time, and He celebrates!

When this world passes away and we arrive in heaven, it will be the best celebration of all times. All tears will be wiped away, all sorrow will be behind us, all the trials will be over. We will live face to face with God for the first time, and all our doubts and questions will be answered fully.

I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying,
"Look, the home of God is now among his people! He will live with them,
and they will be his people. God himself will be with them.
He will remove all of their sorrows, and there will be no more death
or sorrow or crying or pain. For the old world and its evils are gone forever."
Revelation 21:3-4
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That's the party I want to attend!! That's the one I don't want to miss!! I will be tired, I know, because this living stuff can wear you out!! But I will be there! I will be ready! And I won't have to be concerned about what to wear because of Jesus Christ and His death on the cross, I will be clothed in white! He died for my sins, and I accept His gift because I know that I am not worthy, I am not perfect enough and that my "robe" is badly stained and will never be acceptable attire at the great banquet God is preparing in heaven.

They will walk with me in white, for they are worthy.
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.
Rev. 3:5
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How will I know the way? I don't have to! Jesus will come and get me!

"There are many rooms in my Father's home, and I am going to prepare a place for you.
If this were not so, I would tell you plainly.
When everything is ready, I will come and get you,
so that you will always be with me where I am.
And you now where I am going and how to get there."
"No, we don't know Lord," Thomas said.
"We haven't any idea where you are going, so how can we know the way?"
Jesus told him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come
to the Father except through me."
John 14:2-6
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The invitation is for all, but the only way to get through the door is to know the One standing there announcing our name before His Father and His angels!

These are the words I would love to hear:
Father, I would like to announce the arrival of Diane Shore! She and I have spent many hours together while she walked the earth. Her trials have been many, but she has remained faithful to Me and to You, and I would like You to welcome her into Our home for all of eternity!

Wow! Can you imagine stepping through the gates of heaven? Walking on those streets of gold? Meeting up with loved ones, and spending eternity with them? Can you imagine the place God has prepared for us? The room Phil left behind on this earth must be like a garbage dump compared to the one that was prepared for his arrival in heaven!

And the main street was pure gold, as clear as glass.
No temple could be seen in the city, for the Lord God Almighty
and the Lamb are its temple. And the city has no need of
sun or moon, for the glory of God illuminates the city,
and the Lamb is its light.
Revelation 21:21b-23
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Yesterday, sitting outside at the party it grew dark and the lights came on. The heaters that had been set in place kept us warm on a chilly night in the Bay Area. The coffee was hot and good, and the birthday cake was brought out with all the candles being lit. After they were blown out, the cake was served to all the guests. It was not your run of the mill cake, I guess you might say. It seems lately I have had many pieces of cake that were pretty ordinary, although I thought they were good. This cake stood above the rest. It made me think once again about what will be served in heaven. It won't be run of the mill. It will be the best of the best. It will be like the water that Jesus turned into wine at the wedding feast He attended on this earth. There was some surprise that the best wine had been reserved for the end of the party when normally it was served first before the guests were probably too intoxicated to appreciate it. The wine that Jesus made was far above anything they had experienced before. God doesn't make mistakes, and God doesn't create substandard things. What He does, He does right! You may think, well what about this, or what about that...that is only because our thinking is not God's thinking. He alone has the perfect plan! We have to trust Him on that one!

But back to the cake...yummm! I can't wait to taste the desserts in heaven! Since I'm a big fan of dessert, usually picking it up first at buffets to make sure I have room for it...I'm sure the desserts of heaven will be spectacular!! I mean, God did create sugar, didn't He? And the calories won't matter one bit!! That will be the best part!

This earth and all that it contains can be fun and exciting and spectacular in itself, but it is never to be worshipped above our Father God. We tend to get that confused at times. Even the angels say:

"No, don't worship me. For I am a servant of God, just like you and
other brothers and sisters who testify of their faith in Jesus.
Worship God.
Rev. 19:10
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Enjoy this world! But worship God!
Enjoy God's creations! But worship God!
Enjoy all that God has provided! But worship God alone!

Let it all point you toward Him!
Let it all be only a shadow of the greater things to come when we meet Him face to face!
Let it all fill your heart with gratitude for what He has done as we worship Him!

And, don't miss out on the party! Accept your invitation! Call in your RSVP! It will be a party like none you have ever attended! It will be the greatest celebration of all times! The best food, the best company, and the best music I'm sure!

So stay awake and be prepared, because you
do not know the day or hour of my return.
Matthew 25:13
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Most parties tell the date, the time and the address. Not this one! We don't know the date, the time, or exactly where heaven is. That will all be a surprise, but one well worth waiting for! Be ready!! Get to know Jesus today! He has your invitation in hand, let Him deliver it to your heart,
then hold Him close and never let Him go! Get to know Him so that when it's time, you won't be left out of the celebration! I'd miss you, and probably many other people you know would miss you too!

Living in His peace,
Diane