Morning & Evening Daily Devotional Reading– December 8

by Charles H. Spurgeon, Revised and Edited by William C. Neff

“There are some in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they will walk with me in white: for they are worthy.”

—Revelation 3:4

To “walk in white” is best understood as referring to the Christian’s salvation—that is, to his being “declared righteous” in the eyes of God based on the work of Christ Himself. Jesus says, “They will walk in white;” that is, they’ll enjoy a constant sense of their own, Christ-given righteousness; they’ll understand that the righteousness of Christ is imputed (or credited) to them, and that in Christ they have all been washed and made whiter than the newly-fallen snow.

It also refers to their joy and gladness. White robes were holiday dresses among the Jews. Those who haven’t defiled their garments will have bright faces; they’ll understand what Solomon meant when he said “Go on your way; eat your bread with joy, and drink your wine with a merry heart. Let your garments be always white, for God has accepted you.”

Why do some Christians have so many doubts, so much misery, and mourning? It’s because they defile their garments with sin and error, and, as a result, they lose the joy of their salvation and the comfortable fellowship of the Lord Jesus.  They don’t walk each day “in white.”

The promise in this verse also refers to walking in white before the throne of God. Those who haven’t defiled their garments here will most certainly walk in white up there where the white-robed hosts sing perpetual hallelujahs to the Most High. They’ll possess inconceivable joys, happiness beyond their wildest dream, blessing far above one’s strongest desire. [M&E]