What Is The Colour Of My Robe? by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye

Text: Rev. 7:9-14 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindred, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands; And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb. And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God forever and ever. Amen.

And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.

This is an account of what will happen in the future which was shown to John the Beloved by Jesus at the island of Patmos.

John was the only apostle that died of natural causes. After all, attempt to kill him failed, the Roman Emperor Domitian asked that he should be taken to that island to die of hunger, but Jesus took him into a trance to heaven instead to see things to come.

John saw that not only Jews will be in heaven, but also multitudes from all races and colour. One unifying thing among those in heaven is that they will all be wearing white robes.

For me, one of the greatest inventions of man as a result of eating the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil is clothing. It covers our physical nakedness. All the inventions of light, the telephone, cars, planes, etc. are very great; but without clothes, life will really be weird.

The first time Adam and Eve had to manufacture covering, they made it from fig leaves. God had to give them a better covering made from the animal skin instead.

Apart from covering our physical nakedness; clothes also serve the importance of keeping us warm, especially in a colder climate, the thicker the clothe, the warmer a person may feel so that one doesn’t fall sick.

2 Timothy 4:13 The cloke that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments.

As civilisation progresses, clothe significance has graduated from just covering of nakedness and warmth to show of wealth and affluence; royalty and honour; uniformity and identification; etc.

For example:

Honour – Ex. 28:2

Royalty – Gen. 41:42; Esther 6:1-11

Uniformity – Ex. 28:40-43

Wealth/Affluence – Luke 16:19

Poverty – James 2:1-4

Culture – Joshua 7:21-22.

We are all dressed beautifully in different attires today, but before God, there are only two types of clothing or garments one can wear. So as we are all here, you will either be wearing either of two un-imaginary garments.

  1. Robe of righteousness – It is a pure white linen given as a gift by God to a person when they are saved. However, the person is expected to consciously and constantly make effort to wash that robe in the blood of Jesus, such that there must not be any spot, stain, wrinkle or blemish on their robe when Jesus comes for them.

Ephesians 5:25-27 Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it; That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish.

  1. Robe of filth (unrighteousness) – This is a robe that bought from another source of sown by self. It may be of any colour. It may even be a white robe haven been given by God initially. The problem with the robe may just be that it’s a bit dirty, a little stained has few spots, partly wrinkled, and has a blemish or any of such things.

Such robe may be worn deliberately.

Mt. 22:1-14

The parable of the guests invited to a wedding.

Or it may be worn carelessly.

Zechariah 3:1-5 And he shewed me Joshua the high priest standing before the angel of the Lord, and Satan standing at his right hand to resist him. And the Lord said unto Satan, The Lord rebuke thee, O Satan; even the Lord that hath chosen Jerusalem rebuke thee: is not this a brand plucked out of the fire? Now Joshua was clothed with filthy garments, and stood before the angel. And he answered and spake unto those that stood before him, saying, Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him he said, Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment. And I said, Let them set a fair mitre upon his head. So they set a fair mitre upon his head, and clothed him with garments. And the angel of the Lord stood by.

How do I keep my robe pure white?

God told High Priest Joshua what to do so that such an occurrence will not happen to him again.

Zechariah 3:6-7 (Amplified) And the angel of the Lord (solemnly and earnestly) admonished Joshua, saying, “Thus saith the Lord of hosts; ‘If you will walk in my ways (that is, remain faithful), and perform My service, then you will also govern My house, and have charge of My courts, and I will give you free access (to My presence) among these who are standing here.'”

  1. Walk in My ways. How can a man walk in the ways of God?

Micah 6:8

He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?

Do justice; love mercy; walk humbly before God.

  1. Perform My service. How can a man perform God service?

Romans 12:1 – I beseech you, therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

Give yourself; give your time; give your substance to the service of God.

Jesus at 12 years said. “Why look for me? Know not that I must be about My father’s business?”

What are you doing about your father’s business? I challenge you to get on board. Come to me and say “this is my circumstance, what can I do?”

Is there any stain from the above in your robe already? The blood of Jesus is still available to wash your robe. Ask Him to wash you now.

The sermon, What Is The Colour Of My Robe? by Pastor Samuel Obafaiye, was delivered on October 14th, 2018.