Pastor John,
RE: An excerpt from: Random Thought, 12-9, Putting Off Sackcloth, by Pastor John
I love this. It is so good. I prayed as I shared this on Facebook, “Lord, please let them see it!”
Whenever God removes your sackcloth, He covers you with robes of mercy. He gives the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness (Isa. 61:3). When men remove their own sackcloth, they are left naked before God, even if they do not know it.
Men have never known when to remove their sackcloth; that is why we must humble ourselves to wait on God. “It is Good”, said Jeremiah, “that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord” (Lam. 3:26). Those who do not wait on God will be left to join one of the many religions that mankind has developed as a substitute for true mercy and grace. They will take off their own sackcloth and join ranks with the multitudes who are traveling naked toward the Judgment. To just such a man (as to all who have removed their own sackcloth), Jesus once said, “For you say, ‘I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing,’ but you don’t know that you are wretched, and pathetic, and poor, and blind, and naked, I advise you to purchase from me gold refined by fire so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness not be exposed, and eyesalve to anoint your eyes so that you might see” (Rev. 3:17—18)….
“They will take off their own sackcloth and join ranks with the multitudes who are traveling naked toward the Judgment.”
What is written above touched me when I read it. After seeing the young people praise the Lord recently, it did something to me. I saw the most beautiful sight in those moments. It did something to my heart, and when I read the above, it stirred deep in me again. I know what is written is true; no one could ever tell me it is not true. The Lord not only showed me, but he etched it into my soul. Maybe even to my foundation. I don’t know, but it does something to me.
I want those young people to read it, Pastor John, but more than that, I want them to see it.
“They will take off their own sackcloth and join ranks with the multitudes who are traveling naked toward the Judgment.”
It hurts my heart.
Beth