March 28, 2004

THE GREAT CONFESSOR

"He who overcomes shall be clothed in white garments, and I will not blot out his name from the Book of Life; but I will confess his name before My Father and before His angels" (Revelation 3:5, NKJV).

Jesus is here portrayed as the great confessor who constantly appears before God on behalf of those who confess Him before the world. In describing this role, Christ Himself said, "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 10:32). As our able confessor, Jesus represents the interests of His people before His heavenly Father.

Jesus is fully qualified to be our confessor because under the severest of tests He steadfastly bore witness to the truth. Standing before Pontius Pilate, He declared, "For this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth" (John 18:37). The whole purpose of Christ's mission on earth was to confess God's truth to the world. That's why those who copy Him in the steadfast confession of their faith are assured that he will confess them before God, and the holy angels (see Revelation 3:5).

In Christ's encouraging words to the church of Sardis, three marvelous promises are made to the overcomers: (1) white raiment representing the righteousness of Christ, (2) the retention of their names in the Book of Life, and (3) Jesus' confessing of their names before the heavenly Father.

Ellen G. White adds, "When the gates of the City of God swing back on their glittering hinges... Christ will be there to welcome us... because we have overcome. He will welcome us before the Father and before His angels. As we enter the kingdom of God... the trials and difficulties and the perplexities that we have had here will sink into insignificance. Our life will measure with the life of God."--GC Bulletin, April 6. 1903.

My Prayer Today: Lord, help me to be a true confessor of Your saving gospel. Amen.