A thought from Jason
August 16, 2000
Why do you want that robe?
Have you considered what kind of robe you are wearing today? I know that we do not live in the first century but we all wear some type of robe. Please allow me to explain.
You started your life on this earth as a naked baby. No clothing, hardly any knowledge of what this world was or what it continues to be. As soon as your parents brought you home they took care of you, maintained your life and fed you. I pray that all of you who read this had parents like this but I would be naïve to believe that all parents treat their children with respect and loving care. If you have parents that hurt you, there is a heavenly Father that offers you a comfort in Him that no one could ever give you here on Earth. But let me tell you a story about a man who walked a path in life that nearly everyone encounters at sometime in their life.
A man one day was walking along the path of life. Until a bright light appeared in front of him. As the light shown throughout the darkness he began to see himself as he truly was, dirty, alone and lacking everything that he would need to continue a protected life. He looked at his garment that he wore. It was tattered, worn out and he had outgrown it years before. He hadn't realized that until he stepped into the light. He looked up with weary eyes and beheld a glory that he had never even imagined. There was Jesus.
The Lord held out a new, white robe, and offered it to the man. The man stepped back as he was uneasy with accepting this gift and asked the Lord why He wanted to give it to him. The lord replied, " because I offer this gift freely, take it and you will live forever." So the man accepted, threw off his outer garment and tried on the new robe. It instantly changed the darkness around him into a light because it came from the Father. So with his path now illuminated by the new robe and the presence of God he walked down the path of life once again.
He came to a puddle of mud though, and realized that in the past he had jumped into mud puddles and became dirty, and walked on without being cleansed. The Lord walked on and then stopped realizing that His new servant was about to make a decision. The man looked up at the Lord then looked down again at what seemed to be a fun excursion into the past. The Lord put out his hand of guidance but the man was so fixated on his pleasure that he didn't even see the Lord offer a helping hand. The man took one step and then dove into the dirty mud puddle. He swam around laughing; forgetting that his new white robe that now was tainted with dirt, and a covering that would have seemed to be beyond washing. After the swim in the mud the man got out of the puddle and realized that his robe no longer shined.
The Lord was still there though. His eyes pierced the heart of the man and His eyes were filled with pain. The man's smile became a frown and he fell on his knees before the Lord. The man pleaded, "Lord leave me I am a dirty man, I have forsaken your robe, your gift".
The man waited to hear footsteps that echoed farther and farther away but instead he felt and heard the footsteps of Jesus step closer and closer to him. In amazement the man looked up and behold the Lord had a washcloth, water and a new robe waiting for him. The Lord lifted him up and washed every dirty part with such care, with such precision that the man couldn't even see one speck of dirt or dried mud on him. The Lord took the old robe and it vanished from sight. The Lord dressed the man with his new white robe, glowing with the glory of Him. The man asked the Lord, "why didn't you leave and why did you give me this new robe?" The Lord's eyes looked into his servant's eyes and with a smile said, " You are mine and no puddle could ever separate me from you."
Now think about your life, have you jumped into life's puddles, life's sins thinking it would be a time of your life only to find out that you have dirtied what God has given you; His life in yours. Let me tell you that no excursion could ever separate you from what God has forgiven you of, if you have accepted Him and call Him Lord and Savior of your life.
The idea is to, see the puddle, the temptation, and continue to look for the Lord's hand. The Lord will dry up the puddle, the temptation, and will teach you to step safely over the dirty parts of this world. This world has nothing to offer you but a dirty robe, a filthy, run down life. The Lord covers you with His love. The most humbling and awesome thing to think about though is that He offers you a new robe when we dirty ours. So ask the Lord to take away that robe your wearing, and ask for a new-refreshed walk with Him. Let the Lord wash you, He offers his hand, now step over that puddle and jump into the loving arms of your Father, Jesus.
Isaiah 61:10 " I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, My soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with garland, And as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
Matthew 5: 16 " Let your light shine before men, in such a way that they may see your good works and glorify your Father who is in heaven ".
Have a blessed day.... Jason