It was a late fall day. I was about 11 or 12. It had rained pretty hard the night before. There was a huge puddle in the yard, maybe 6 inches deep and 10 yards long. My parents were not home. I could not resist. I had a couple of my friends come over. I grabbed the football. For about an hour, one of us would toss the football into the middle of the giant puddle and the other two would dive in head first to recover the fumble. Whoever came out of the muck with ball was the winner. Some of these battles went on for a minutes. I can't even express how much fun we had that day.

Then my mom came home. And there we were, standing in a giant mud pie. We didn't realize that we had torn up a huge patch of grass with our game. We also didn't realize either that we were completely covered, head to toe, with slimy sludge. Our hair was matted down with dirt. Our clothes were ruined. I had thick grime in my eyes, ears, and nose.

The next thing I knew, my mother was standing in the driveway holding a wooden spoon. It was her weapon of choice. My friends knew her look and quickly got on their bikes and rode home to face their own moms. Caked in black mud, I could say nothing. She looked at me and said that I should get away from her. She wasn't going talk to me until I had cleaned up and washed my clothes.

This evening we are continuing our series of Advent questions. Tonight's question is "Who are these people in white robes, and where did they come from?" The question comes from St. John's Revelation in chapter 7. God had given John a glimpse of heaven and John was made aware of the Holy Christian Church in heaven, God's faithful - people from every nation, tribe, people and language standing before the throne and in front of the lamb. They were dressed in white robes and holding palm branches.

One of the elders said, "John, who are these people in white and where are they from?" John replied with respect, "Sir, you know." The Elder told John that the people had come from the great tribulation, but now would suffer no more. Now they were in the Temple of God - in the very presence of the Lord.

I am sure all of you want to be in that great multitude of people dressed in white. Not everybody, however, will be included in this blessed group. The Elder made it very clear that only those who have been washed in the blood of the lamb will enter heaven's gates.

On that fall day, when I had finally cleaned up and put on dirt free clothes, I was allowed back into my mother's presence. When I had gotten rid of all the dirt I was able to talk to her. John saw that glorious band in heaven when they were dressed in white. But they were not always clean with white robes on. They once were covered with the sludge of sin. Their transgressions soiled them and banned them from God's presence.

The Bible clearly showed us how terrible our sins are. The Law made it evident that we didn't deserve to stand before the throne of God. The Law showed us what a horrible mess we were spiritually. Every angry thought, every malicious word, and every ungrateful mumbling made us filthy.

We could have try our whole live to clean up. We could dress up and put on nice show. But even our best for God was tainted by sin. For example, someone goes to church for a midweek Advent service. That person listens to the Word, prays earnestly, and sings out with joy. Then that person leaves God's house smugly patting himself on the back for going to church on a Wednesday night. Even when we try to give our best to God, we are still tainted by sin, clothed in filthy rags. Those in white robes who came out of the tribulation of life were once clothed in filthy rags too. They struggled with sin on earth. We also battle sin every day of our lives. We must accept this painful truth and keep our guard up against the temptations that surround us.

At St. Stephen we emphasize sound doctrine. We push Bible study hard so that you can know all the facts. But I want to say something to you tonight. You can know it all about God. You can recite Bible passage after Bible passage. But unless you have saving faith in Jesus Christ, unless you have been washed by the blood of the lamb, you will not have heaven. Don't you think that the devil himself knows the facts about God? He does. But he has not been made white. He will never be in heaven.

People can only go before God if they are cleansed in faith. We can't wash off sin or find white robes for ourselves. No matter how many times I tried to wash my clothes after playing in that huge mud puddle, I never was able to get the stains out. Those clothes were ruined. And no matter how hard we try to cleanse ourselves of the dirt and grime of sin we cannot do it.

The Elder told John that those in white robes were washed in the blood of the Lamb. We know the Lamb as the Son of God, Jesus Christ - the one John the Baptist pointed to and said, "Look, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world." Only by the blood of the Lamb of God can we be cleansed and go to heaven. Living a good life, following the example of Christ, learning every Bible fact, and admiring Jesus will not get you to heaven. We are made suitable for entry into heaven only by the blood of Christ shed on the cross of Calvary.

No don't get me wrong. Jesus perfect life is important. Without that holiness, Jesus would not have been fit to be the sacrifice for mankind. And Jesus resurrection from the dead is vital also. Christ conquered death, the result of sin, once and for all. But Jesus' blood makes us pure. When God washes us with the blood of the Lamb, he washes us good. He gives us a robe of righteousness to wear forever in heaven.

So how do you know if you have been cleansed? How do you know if you will be among those who are dressed in white robes? It is by faith. The Holy Spirit gives you faith so that when you ask the question, "Do I believe in Jesus Christ as my Savior from sin?" the answer is yes. Faith is not some mysterious force that man starts up or charges up in his heart. It is a free gift of God that comes through hearing the gospel.

Do you want to be before the throne of heaven praising the lamb? I am sure you do. Listen to how great it will be: {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 spread his tent over them. {16} Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon 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."

Our Advent question this evening is "Who are these people in white robes, and where did they come from?" Those dressed in white robes are the forgiven saints brought to heaven through the gift of faith. They came out the tribulation, or trial, of living in this sinful world. They are in heaven where there is no suffering, there are no more tears. Those white-robed saints will stand before throne of God.

I was having so much fun in the mud that it never occurred to me to clean up before my mother came home. She arrived. It was too late and my mom found me a mess. Advent is a time for us to prepare for Jesus' arrival. When he comes to get us, don't let him find you a mess. Repent of your sins. Believe in the Lamb of God who shed his blood for our forgiveness. Then, with faith in the Savior, you will enjoy your white robe praising the Lamb for all eternity in heaven. Amen.