White robes for eternity? That sounds like HELL to me! (Or to any fashionista, for that matter.)
Actually, comments like this drive me crazy.
First of all, white represents the righteousness of God that will cover us forever. In Biblical times it was nearly impossible to keep white clothing clean - they didn't have detergents or cleaners like we do now, so pure white clothing was limited to the wealthy and to royalty. Similarly, it's impossible for us to be righteous on our own - we're totally dependent upon Jesus...and we're wealthy and royalty, thanks to His finished work. It's an allegory, pure and simple...although perhaps we'll have fabulous white ceremonial outfits to wear to the Throne Room as a symbol of our righteousness.
There's nothing sacred or "holy" about robes. People wore them in Biblical times because that's all they had, as they were relatively easy to make. Remember, there were no sewing machines, no buttons, no zippers, no dyes in every color you could imagine, no machinery to print designs on fabrics, no lace or piping or....get it? For some asinine reason most people think we're going to go backwards, instead of forward. NO! We'll have even more to choose from than we do now....and our favorite outfits not fitting because we put on weight will no longer be a problem because we'll have perfect, glorified bodies which will never get too fat! ;D
You know, if you think about it, people have a "concentration camp" view of heaven: give up your clothing and put on this uniform of a white robe. Don't like white robes? Too bad! Give up the possessions you cherish, and the things you love to do. Spend all your time in an eternal church service. Play a harp. Float on a cloud. DO AS YOU'RE TOLD!!!!
No! Nothing could be further from the truth! Heaven is a place of infinite options and choices. I can see it now: We'll get our wardrobe "just so" and figure we're good for a while, with clothes in every shade and hue, then God will announce, "Attention everybody! I just created a new color - how do you like it?" ;D
Back to the New Jerusalem mall!
And not to worry...the bill is covered because.....
You know that white stone that is promised to the over-comers in Rev. 2:17? Come on, admit it - you've probably thought something like, "Oh joy, a pet rock. Goody goody."
No, no, NO!!!!! In ancient times when an athlete won a competition he was given a white stone with his name on it. And you know what? He could go to any shop, to any inn, to any market in the city, show his white stone....and anything he wanted was given to him ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! It's like a free pass to the New Jerusalem Mall - a credit card with no limit, and Abba pays the bill! ;D
I believe with all my heart that whatever we cherish will be there for us - after all, we're going to have mansions; we'll have plenty of room to fill up with whatever it is we love and enjoy! God isn't out to take anything good away from us - He restores, gives, and blesses...and the Word says He'll deny NO good thing to those who love Him. (It's Satan who kills, steals, and destroys, not our Daddy!) And don't forget, there are chapters and chapters in the Pentateuch about respecting others' possessions. Would God go against His own commandments?
And the things we love to do? Imagine doing not only everything you love, but also ever hoped or dreamed of doing....maybe it's not physically possible, or maybe you just couldn't afford to do. For instance, I love whitewater rafting, but it's expensive and I hurt for days after doing it. Neither finances or a body that's aging will be a problem...nor will we have to worry about getting hurt or killed. I love to fly, but thus far have only piloted two and four seater planes. One of my dreams is to learn how to fly a fighter jet, and take off and land from a carrier. I thought that was a big deal, until the Lord impressed upon me that I can learn to pilot a starship if I so desire! (Where do I sign up? ;D) Travel? Heck, we're going to travel throughout the universe!
I went through a period of profound depression when my husband died. For a time there were occasions when I would be crying, partly because my dream of the perfect home in Hawaii seemed to be gone. Sometimes the Lord would - just for a split second - flash an image of the home He has waiting in front of me, and oh my, is it ever lovely! Well, one day something wasn't right. He showed me a kitchen that would make Gordon Ramsey drool. (BTW, pray for Gordon, OK?) But...he had shown me an equally fabulous - but different - kitchen before. I asked Him which was mine, and He laughed and said, "I have over a billion galaxies, with over a billion planets in every galaxy. Why are you limiting me to giving you
one house?" Oh wow - then I got it! Wealthy people think they're hot stuff because they have a home in Beverly Hills, a pied-a-terre in Paris, a summer house in the Hamptons....but that's NOTHING compared to what Abba has for those who have chosen to love His Son!
I'm convinced that the "poorest" person in heaven will live better than the wealthiest man on earth.
Funny, as I'm typing this I'm listening to a Bible study. I don't think it's any coincidence that I just heard, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence [is] fulness of joy; at thy right hand [there are] pleasures for evermore." (Psalm 16:11)
Just think - every hope, every dream, every desire will be fulfilled. I used to have a business designing one-of-a-kind T-shirts which I sold at a resort in Hawaii. One of the things I want to do in eternity is learn to design clothing. And I want to produce movies. And have my own airline. And lots of other things!
As for "plain white" clothing, check this out; here's how God decks out His bride (in this case, referring to Jerusalem):
"I have caused thee to multiply as the bud of the field, and thou hast increased and waxen great, and thou art come to excellent ornaments: [thy] breasts are fashioned, and thine hair is grown, whereas thou [wast] naked and bare. Now when I passed by thee, and looked upon thee, behold, thy time [was] the time of love; and I spread my skirt over thee, and covered thy nakedness: yea, I sware unto thee, and entered into a covenant with thee, saith the Lord GOD, and thou becamest mine. Then washed I thee with water; yea, I throughly washed away thy blood from thee, and I anointed thee with oil. I clothed thee also with embroidered work, and shod thee with badgers' skin, and I girded thee about with fine linen, and I covered thee with silk. I decked thee also with ornaments, and I put bracelets upon thy hands, and a chain on thy neck. And I put a jewel on thy forehead, and earrings in thine ears, and a beautiful crown upon thine head. Thus wast thou decked with gold and silver; and thy raiment [was of] fine linen, and silk, and embroidered work; thou didst eat fine flour, and honey, and oil: and thou wast exceeding beautiful, and thou didst prosper into a kingdom. (Ezek. 6-16)
Doesn't sound like plain white robes to me!
I pray for the designers whose clothing I love - I plan to enjoy their work (and learn from them) forever!
Charles Stanley once said something, and the more I think about it, the more it blesses me: "Heaven is a place where everything is so perfect that not even God can improve upon it."
Just think - everything we love, everything we could desire, will be there. I love to cook and bake and have dinner parties, and I'll do so....but will have someone to do the cleaning up, which I hate. (I can't wait to have a dinner party with Jesus as the guest of honor!) My precious animals will be there, as will the few things that are dear to me. I'll still be able to do all the things I love to do, and do those that I've been prevented from doing because of finances or physical limitations.
Heaven is perfect! Get rid of the concentration camp mentality and start thinking about the glory we're going to enjoy - and the fun we're going to have - for eternity!
And not to worry...the bill is covered because.....
No, no, NO!!!!! In ancient times when an athlete won a competition he was given a white stone with his name on it. And you know what? He could go to any shop, to any inn, to any market in the city, show his white stone....and anything he wanted was given to him ABSOLUTELY FREE!!! It's like a free pass to the New Jerusalem Mall - a credit card with no limit, and Abba pays the bill! ;D
