A Spotted Dress
Hi Friends,
I am writing today about a vision the Lord gave me a few weeks ago. It speaks of the Church and God’s desire for his bride to be ready for him. The Lord is coming for a bride without spot or wrinkle. Will the church get herself ready?
This is the Vision
I saw a closet with a pole upon which were hung many outfits. The closet was quite full. But the most prominent item in the closet was a dress that was hung on the pole, facing outward, so that the dress was displayed in full view. The dress was a sleeveless, full length gown with a scooped neckline. The fabric was ivory in color and delicate with an overlay of organza. But the dress was also completely covered in spots. The spots were a variety of sizes, somewhere between 1 to 2 inches in diameter, and were various shades of grey.
Even though the style, and choice of fabrics would categorize the dress as formal wear, the grey spots made the dress unattractive. As I thought of the vision, this scripture came to mind:
“He gave up his life for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without spot or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless.” Ephesians 5:25-27
Yet there are problems with this interpretation. The bride of Christ will be dressed in white - because the Lord is able to completely cleanse the church and make her holy, a radiant church. So what does the dress represent? Could it be that the Lord is showing us that the Church is not yet ready? The dress is definitely not without spot or wrinkle, there are grey spots all over the dress.
The Lord speaks out, in the book of Revelation: “I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and cover the shame of your nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.” Revelation 3:18
To whom was the Lord speaking in that quotation? It was to the church at Laodicea. This is the full passage:
“To the angel of the church in Laodicea write: These are the words of the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the ruler of God’s creation. I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot. I wish you were either one or the other! So, because you are lukewarm—neither hot nor cold—I am about to spit you out of my mouth. You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.’ But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent. Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. To him who overcomes, I will grant the right to sit with me on my throne, even as I overcame and sat down with my Father on his throne. Whoever has ears, let them hear what the Spirit says to the churches.” Revelation 3:14-22
The Lord wants his church, to be holy, to be blameless and to be perfect: “Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:48
“Be perfect” - that is a tall order to fill! Can it be done? Jesus said many things that astonished his disciples. They would ask him,
“How can this be?” John 3:9 Or, “Who then can be saved?” Jesus said, with man, this is impossible, but not for God. All things are possible for God.” Matthew 19:25-26
Let’s look at a few examples:
“Jesus replied, ‘Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.’” Nicodemus replied, “How can someone be born when they are old?.....How can this be?” John 3:3-4, 3:9
Jesus makes this statement, “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven.” His disciples asked him in astonishment: “Who then can be saved?” Matthew 19:25-26
“Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood remains in me, and I in them….. On hearing it, many of his disciples said, ‘This is a hard teaching. Who can accept it?” John 6:56 & 60
Many things the Lord spoke, were shocking. However they represented spiritual truths. The impossible becomes possible with God. When we abide with him and his Holy Spirit abides in us, we can do all things! “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13
With God we can overcome barriers and obstacles. He said, “If you believe, you will see the glory of the Lord.” John 11:40
We know that the Christian walk is a walk of faith. So that is what our life is to be about - having faith, and trusting in God. We need to simply believe that what he says - he can do.
What the word tells us, we must take into our spirits and let these truths become part of us.
As I thought about the dress, I wondered if it could represent something different. Could it be that the dress represents things that we put on or accept - ideas, beliefs, values? Could the dress represent hypocrisy?
The dress is made to look like a formal gown, but is it really? Can we use Christian expressions, and do Christian things, but not really be in the faith? We are encouraged to test ourselves - “Examine yourselves to see whether you are in the faith; test yourselves. Do you not realize that Christ Jesus is in you -- unless, of course, you fail the test? And I trust that you will discover that we have not failed the test…..For we cannot do anything against the truth, but only for the truth.” 2 Corinthians 13:5-8
Could the spots on the dress represent blind spots in our Christian walk?
Sins, behaviors, thoughts, beliefs, habits, choices and decisions can lead us into error, and result in spiritual bondage.
We are to cast off, the things that hinder us. “Therefore since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrew 12:1
So we take off, remove, or get rid of those things that hinder us. But what are we to put on? How are we to clothe ourselves? The Bible mentions in many passages what the Lord would have us wear, or put on. I would like to share a few of these with you, because many of these, are the very things that we need to be a bride without spot or wrinkle.
We clothe ourselves with:
“I put on righteousness as my clothing.” Job 29:14
“For all of you who were baptized into Christ, have clothed yourselves with Christ.” Galatians 3:27
“For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness…” Isaiah 61:10
“She is clothed with strength and dignity.” Proverbs 31:22 & 25
“You removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” Psalm 30:11
“To bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.” Isaiah 61:3
“I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.” Psalm 132:16
“I will clothe his enemies with shame, but his head will be adorned with a radiant crown.” Psalm 132:18
“And all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” 1 Peter 5:5
“Therefore as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” Colossians 3:12
“For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality.” 1 Corinthians 15:53
“So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.” Romans 13:12
“Awake, awake, Zion, clothe yourself with strength! Put on your garments of splendor, Jerusalem, the holy city. “ Isaiah 52:1
“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.” Romans 13:14
“I am going to send you what my Father promised; but stay in the city until you have been clothed with power from on high.” Luke 24:49
We remove, or to take off:
“Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice.“ Ephesians 4:31
“Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.“ Proverbs 4:24
“The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.” Galatians 5:19-21
What is the Lord Looking for? What does he expect? He wants his bride to be clothed in honor and dignity, in splendor and radiantly white, with no spots, wrinkles, or blemishes. Many of the characteristics that he values are mentioned in what is known as the fruit of the Spirit.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.” Galatians 5:23
This message is about living for God in holiness. We know that God does not want us to live in mediocrity, or complacency. He does not want his Church, his bride, to be lukewarm. He is asking us to seek him earnestly, to spend time with him, to know him and to love him.
Yes - the gift of eternal life is free, to those who believe. We are not to “work” for our salvation. But with grateful hearts, we acknowledge the Lord’s sacrifice of his life, upon the cross, for our sins. With genuine repentance, and a true desire to please him, to walk with him, we recognize that he purchased us with his blood. We belong to him.
If you do not feel the love for him as I have shared, then it may be a sign that you have too much love for the world and the things that the world can offer you. You need to make a decision. God wants all of you, not just a tiny piece, that you reluctantly give him, when it is convenient for you.
We are told, “Do not love the world or anything in the world. For if anyone loves the world, the love for the Father is not in him.” 1 John 2:15
If you would like to give your all, your heart and your life to the Lord Jesus. If you would like to make a deeper commitment to him, then you can pray:
Lord Jesus,
I want to know you. I want to be with you now, in my life, and in the life to come. I give myself to you this day. I ask that you forgive me for my sins, for the things I have said or done of which am so ashamed. Please forgive me, and make me a new creation in you. You said, “Behold the past is gone, all things have been made new.” (2 Corinthians 5:17) Your word says that you are “faithful and just, and will forgive us our sins, and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9) You said that you will remove my sins as far as the east is from the west, and that you would remember them no more. (Psalm 103:12) (Hebrews 8:12) I thank you for forgiving me.
Jesus, I believe that you are God. God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit are three and at the same time only one.
I believe that you died on the cross for me.
I believe that you were raised to life on the third day, and that I will be raised with you, to everlasting life.
I believe that you will fill me with your Holy Spirit, who will lead me and guide me into all truth.
I believe that you will write my name in the Book of Life.
I renounce the devil, and all his works.
I promise that should I fall into sin, I will immediately repent and turn back to you.
I choose to make you Lord over my life.
And I will treasure your Word and keep it in my heart, that I would not sin against you.
Thank you Jesus, make me yours forever!
Amen!
This is a link to a beautiful song of salvation, sung by Alan Jackson. The Lyrics I have written below:
Song by Mahalia Jackson
Lyrics
Just as I am, without one plea
But that Thy blood was shed for me
And that Thou bid'st me come to Thee
O Lamb of God, I come! I come
Just as I am, though tossed about
With many a conflict, many a doubt
Fighting and fears within without
O Lamb of God, I come, I come
Just as I am, and waiting not
to rid my soul of one dark blot
to thee whose blood can cleanse each spot
O Lamb of God, I come, I come
Just as I am, poor, wretched, blind
Sight, riches, healing of the mind
Yea, all I need, in Thee to find
O Lamb of God, I come, I come!
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve
Because Thy promise I believe
O Lamb of God, I come, I come
Because Thy promise I believe
O Lamb of God, I come, I come
Source: LyricFind
Songwriters: Alan Jackson
Just as I Am lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
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