Thou hast a few names even in Sardis which have not defiled their garments, and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy. Revelation 3:4
The children were instructed to sit quietly on the verandah for the hour that their parents would be gone; a dozen children from two families whose parents were going to visit a local farmer to buy some corn for a a cornboil for supper. Rain earlier in the day had made the grounds muddy, and the parents did not want the children, dressed in their Sunday best, to get dirty. They promised the children a treat if they stayed clean. For a while, the children chatted quietly. Then, two of the older boys began tossing a ball back and forth. The verandah was too crowded, so they stepped carefully out into the yard, stepping only in places that were not muddy. But other children quickly joined the game, and they began scampering and chasing each other all over the yard. It took very little time until their shoes were all muddy. Most of them had fallen into the mud at least once. On the verandah, a girl took it upon herself to keep the youngest child, a toddler, from entering the field of play. Despite his cries, she held on to him, and kept him on the verandah. Soon, the parents’ car was seen coming up the driveway, and the children ended their game and dashed up onto the verandah. But the parents quickly identified those who had violated the decree to stay out of the muddy yard. Only the girl and the youngster who she had kept clean were given ice cream cones that day. Only those Christians who keep themselves undefiled from the world will receive our Lord’s commendation for doing so.
Garments speak of testimony, that which is evident to other Christians and to the outside world. Only a few of those in the Assembly in Sardis had managed to keep their testimonies undefiled. These few had obeyed the Lord’s commandment to love their brothers and sisters in Christ. They had obeyed the commandment to be holy, even as He is holy. They had not become involved in illegal, immoral, or unethical activities. They had not dabbled in idolatry or immersed themselves in the political and social affairs of their community. Despite having to live in a world defiled by immorality, dishonesty, cruelty, and idolatry, these dear saints had remained undefiled by remaining in close fellowship with their Lord. They are a wonderful example to us.
Is our age any more evil than the one in which the Sardis Assembly was found? Probably not, although we can certainly see depravity on the rise. Is it any harder for us to keep the garments of our testimony pure than it was for them? Probably not, although we cannot help but see the rising tide of temptations and evil influences all around us. If anything, defiling influences are more subtle these days. But it is still possible for us to be like the faithful few in Sardis who remained undefiled. -Jim MacIntosh