Awake and Dressed?

 I like to be awake and dressed before I go anywhere. What about you? It is a lot better than being naked and ashamed, isn't it? Well, John uses this analogy about us being ready to go with Christ when He returns. (Revelation 16:15) It is very important for us to keep watch. He will be coming unannounced, like a thief. We are blessed if we are awake and dressed on that day. However, it is too bad if we are not, because we will be running through the streets naked and ashamed. This is an essential truth for all of us, if we are really going to be prepared to meet Jesus in the air.

Jesus emphasized over and over that He was going to come like a thief in the night. His admonition to all people is to "Watch."(Matthew 24:42) That means we have to be looking for that time to come by being ready. So what does the Bible mean here when it says we are blessed if we are awake and dressed? It is obvious that it is symbolic language. It is talking about our spiritual state of being. Once we come to know Jesus, the Bible says we are awake spiritually, instead of being asleep to the important things like those people who do not know Him.(I Thessalonians 5:5,6) The Spirit within us wakes us up to see and hear relevant things that have an impact on us and others eternally. Also, once we have Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we are dressed in His righteousness, not the filthy rags of our own righteousness.(II Corinthians 5:21) The Bible depicts this as being dressed in white robes, having had our sins washed by the blood of Christ. Therefore, believers must watch with the eyes of the Spirit for Jesus to come. Those who fail to trust Jesus and do not have the Spirit are naked before God, and they will be ashamed when Jesus shows up. They will see their sins, and they will realize they are completely unqualified to go with Him. Then, it is too late and too bad for them, because they will not get a second chance to wake up and get dressed.(Matthew 24:38-41) Please, do not let that happen to you.

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Tomorrow, I intend to read Revelation 19-20.