Devos for Dec. 28th (Jenny's post)

Scripture:Revelation ch. 5, 7:9-17

Observation/Application 
Here we have a glimpse of the redeemed in heaven. I was struck by the description of them. It says that as they are standing around the throne of God, they are wearing white robes that have been washed in the blood of the lamb. For one thing, their white robes indicate purity. There will be no sin in heaven. Before entering the gate, every stain will be washed away in the blood of the Lamb, and the saved will be made perfectly whole. While on earth, we never can get clear of our burden of sin, in our present life. The holiest saint can never have a perfectly white robe on this earth.
But here we have a glimpse of a day coming, in which all who reach heaven will be entirely free, and free forever, from every stain of sin! The garments of the redeemed will be white, without a single spot! Our hearts shall be thoroughly cleansed. We will leave behind us all corruption, and will never again have a sinful thought or feeling or desire--but seeing Christ as He is--we shall be like Him forever!
The white robes indicate not only purity--but glory! Here on earth, our bodies are dull, and their beauty is marred by sin; but the spiritual body will be glorious, like Christ's.
The palm branches in the hands of the redeemed, probably indicate joy and rejoicing. Heaven will be a place of great happiness and of blessed triumph. There will be no tears there, and no defeat, no failure. Those who have been always sick here--will be well there; and those who have failed here in all their earthly life--will be among the victors there. What an amazing thing to think about!
The next thing I noticed was what the job of the redeemed will be in heaven. Their job will be praise. Their praise will be for salvation. They will never forget in their blessedness, that they owe it all to God's mercy, and Christ's atoning sacrifice on their behalf. They will always remember what they were by nature, and how they were redeemed and lifted up to glory--at a great cost.
The last thing that God showed me in these verses is that the redeemed had to endure a lot in their lives but they were not ruined by what they went through. The redeemed in these verses are said to be the ones who have come out of the great tribulation. They are not those who have lived in palaces, and have never known pain or trial. Heaven's people are those who have had much suffering on the earth. Some of them had to pass through martyr fires; some suffered poverty and sickness; some were wronged and oppressed; some had trial and mocking and imprisonment. I was reminded that the way to heaven is not always an easy way. Here we see how the saints passed through all this tribulation and are not ruined by it. It does not leave them crushed and broken. They stand beyond it all--glorious! It is the washing in the blood of the Lamb that removes all the scars and marks of pain and sorrow!

Prayer
Lord, thank you for endurance, allow me to endure all things that I might be able to be strong in the sight of pain and suffering for your sake. The trials that I go through are not to break me but to build me, create in me a strength to endure. I'm so excited at the idea of heaven and being made whole in your Son; what an awesome prize to be given, eternal life spent with you. Take my weakness and struggles and be strong in them just as your word says. Allow for my life to minister to others who walk a similar path as me. I love you Lord and in Jesus name I pray, amen.