December 30

Read: Revelation 22:10-12

He that is holy, let him be holy still (Revelation 22:12).

Holiness In The Revelation

Rudyard Kipling in his “L’envoi” reminds us that there are finalities for us all:

When earth’s last picture is painted, And the tubes are twisted and dried, When the oldest colors have faded, And the youngest critic has died,

It is then that God shall have the last word in our lives. Kipling continues, “And those that were good shall be happy.”

Here in the last book of the Bible we get a final glimpse of God’s concern for holiness, for goodness, for Godlikeness. In 1:5-6 we join in praise “unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood, and hath made us… priests unto God.” In the Old Testament the priest was an anointed man who walked close to God and served Him exclusively. But in Christ we may all draw near and serve Him continuously.

In 3:18 we hear again God’s message of holy living and we remember that it is addressed, not to the sinner, but to the Church: “I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire [thus purified]… and white raiment [all sin removed] … and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

God’s way is a holy way. His call is to every man who sincerely desires to be like Him: “The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely,’ (22:17).

Testimony For Today

My heart responds to that call. I have heard the invitation. I repeat it to all who read these words, Come. That water is life to my thirsty soul; it will bring strength to your drooping spirit.