I will admit the Book of Revelation scares me. So I thought about turning to another page when the Bible opened to Revelation tonight.  But, I decided to give it a chance:

Then one of the elders spoke up and said to me, “Who are these wearing white robes, and where did they come from?”  I said to him, “My lord, you are the one who knows.” He said to me, “These are the ones who have survived the time of great distress; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

“For this reason they stand before God’s throne and worship him day and night in his temple.  The one who sits on the throne will shelter them.  They will not hunger or thirst anymore, nor will the sun or any heat strike them.  For the Lamb who is in the center of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to springs of life-giving water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”

Revelation 7:13-17

Surprisingly,  this passage makes sense to me.  I want to be one of the ones wearing a white robe.  I want to be washed in the blood of the Lamb.  What do I have to do?  I have to survive the time of great distress.  It doesn’t say they did something great — they just survived — and then they washed in the blood of the Lamb.  I feel pretty certain that we all face times of great distress.  We have to survive and turn to Jesus to wash away our sins.  To fully wash we have to expose ourselves completely, we have to trust and release everything to God.  And we have to believe.  I believe Jesus died for me.  And I believe He died for you.

And then we will stand before God’s throne.  We will be able to worship Him day and night.  And we will not hunger or thirst anymore.  We will finally be satisfied and we will finally feel safe.  Jesus is the way — He leads us to springs of life-giving water — in it we can be cleansed, we can have ever lasting life — and we will have no more tears and no more times of great distress.

Lord,

You are great indeed! So loving and caring.  You lead me to all things that are good.  I know with you at my side, I can survive.  And with you leading me, I can accomplish all things.   I worship you!  I adore you!  You alone are my savior!  You alone are my Lord!