Intro: In our passage today, Jesus tells his followers (through the Apostle John) he will be returning to judge their deeds. What deeds will be judged? Will Jesus be looking at the number of times his followers attended church? Or, will Jesus be most interested in how involved each follower has been in ministry or outreach? No, this is about the deeds of a person’s heart to deal with the human sin within. Christ’s followers are to wash their robes—in other words they are to allow the Word/commandments to cleanse them from evil thinking and living by bringing themselves into the power of Christ’s righteousness to overcome sin. Our cleansing is what will enable us one day to eat from the Tree of Life; otherwise, we are simply pretending to follow Christ while hiding our sin. “Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it (James 4:17).
Revelation 22:12-15 (AMP)
12 “Behold, I (Jesus) am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to each one [judgment] according to the merit of his deeds (earthly works, faithfulness). 13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End [the Eternal One].”
14 Blessed (happy, prosperous, to be admired) are those who wash their robes [in the blood of Christ by believing and trusting in Him—the righteous who do His commandments], so that they may have the right to the tree of life, and may enter by the gates into the city. 15 Outside are the dogs [the godless, the impure, those of low moral character] and the sorcerers [with their intoxicating drugs, and magic arts], and the immoral persons [the perverted, the molesters, and the adulterers], and the murderers, and the idolaters, and everyone who loves and practices lying (deception, cheating).
he Final Invitation
16 “I, Jesus, have sent My angel to testify to you and to give you assurance of these things for the churches. I am the Root (the Source, the Life) and the Offspring of David, the radiant and bright Morning Star.”
Prayer: Lord, I pray for your Holy Spirit to search my heart—the core of my being—and rid me of any hidden sin. I pray for all of your followers to gain an understanding of how essential it is that we deal with sin by clinging to your righteous ways of living. In Jesus’ name. Amen.