As I sat in the waiting room for my name to be called, I was surrounded by women of all ages, colors, shapes and sizes. We had one thing in common as we waited. We all had on a white robe. It was the great equalizer in that moment. Our background, education, income or address did not matter. As we waited for tests and results, we sat mostly in silence. Most too anxious to talk. Yet, equal in that moment. All pondering what the results would bring us. Some news would bring joy and relief. While other news would certainly bring sadness, uncertainty, and a long road ahead. It’s times like these in our lives that we come face to face with our future, our salvation, and our hope.
Sitting in that room that day reminded me of the scripture in Revelation 7 (emphasis mine):
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
“Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying:
“Amen! Praise and glory and wisdom and thanks and honor and power and strength be to our God for ever and ever. Amen!”
13 Then one of the elders asked me, “These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?”
14 I answered, “Sir, you know.”
And he said, “These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore,
“they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple; and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence. 16 ‘Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat down on them,’ nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; ‘he will lead them to springs of living water.’ ‘And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.’”
For me, usually a worrier, I waited with a calming sense of peace resting on me that day. This peace could only come from God’s presence in that moment. Knowing that as I wait on this side of heaven, He has my future. He has granted me salvation – He has washed my robe and made it white by the blood of the Lamb. And, I have hope – because He is my shepherd. By His grace, I will stand before him one day. Never to hunger. Never to thirst. He will lead me by springs of living water and wipe away every tear from my eyes.
When I checked in at the imaging center that day, the assistant wore a button that said, “God’s Got This”. It made me smile. Because He does! How many times has that little button bolstered the faith of those waiting. Whatever we may be going through in this life, we can trust in Him. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.”
(My results that day were good. And, I am very thankful. But, my heart is with those who didn’t receive the same news. I pray that they know the salvation, hope, and peace of God.)