My sister and I asked, our kids asked and our grand kids ask. Hardly a trip is made without boredom, impatience or just plain excitement taking over and we want to know "How much longer?!"
John heard a similar expression of eager anticipation, maybe even frustration in his Revelation vision. He 'saw' and 'heard' the souls of the martyrs asking God, "How long Lord. . .until you avenge our blood?" (Rev 6:10-11). God's answer came in two forms. First, each of them was given a white robe to wear; then they were told that their waiting would be over when all who would ever die for the faith had died. A time would come when God would destroy the enemies of God and of His people and there would be an end to martyrdom. Meanwhile, He gave those who would wait a white robe. He 'dressed' them for the wait.
Who of us have not asked, "How long Lord?"? How much longer must I/we endure this situation, this condition. It sometimes seems that there is no answer forthcoming. John helps us here.
He teaches us that God is at work, behind the scenes of our frustration, our suffering, our impatience, even our eager expectancy, working things out to their conclusion. Meanwhile, He dresses us in a garment of righteousness and strength; He equips us with the power of His Holy Spirit; we are "clothed in Christ" (Gal 3:27) and have "put on the full armor of God" (Eph 6:11). Dressed like that, God's children can wait as long as He requires us to.
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