Who will wear the white Shalwar?
Personal gleanings on a topic discussed in this month's Voice of the Marytr's publication, & other net research....
In Islam the white shalwar (robe) is a symbol of separation or divorce from one's family. In India, the Sikhs consider the white shalwar to be a sign of mourning.
In Pakistan & Afghanistan there is enormous persecution of Christian converts going on. Their conversion from Islam to Christ is considered a great dishonor by their Islamic family. Usually they are beaten (sometimes even to death) cast out of the home and given a white robe to wear as a symbol of their ostracization and dishonor. They are now considered as if dead by their family.
But, to these new Christians the white robe becomes a garment of honor, a symbol of purification by the blood of Jesus that sets them apart as His followers. They are willing at great personal sacrifice to take the white shalwar and wear it proudly, all the well knowing that from that point on their lives will be in jeopardy and the chances of them becomimg martyr'd for their new found faith are all too real.
Those of us in the free world who never had to make great personal sacrifices or risk our own lives in order to become followers of Christ... should take some time to step back and give prayer, honor and praise to our fellow brothers & sisters in Christ (in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, & other restricted nations) who are willing to wear these white robes, all for the sake of Jesus.
Revelations 7
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir,[b] you know."
So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and 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 dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.[c] And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
Personal gleanings on a topic discussed in this month's Voice of the Marytr's publication, & other net research....
In Islam the white shalwar (robe) is a symbol of separation or divorce from one's family. In India, the Sikhs consider the white shalwar to be a sign of mourning.
In Pakistan & Afghanistan there is enormous persecution of Christian converts going on. Their conversion from Islam to Christ is considered a great dishonor by their Islamic family. Usually they are beaten (sometimes even to death) cast out of the home and given a white robe to wear as a symbol of their ostracization and dishonor. They are now considered as if dead by their family.
But, to these new Christians the white robe becomes a garment of honor, a symbol of purification by the blood of Jesus that sets them apart as His followers. They are willing at great personal sacrifice to take the white shalwar and wear it proudly, all the well knowing that from that point on their lives will be in jeopardy and the chances of them becomimg martyr'd for their new found faith are all too real.
Those of us in the free world who never had to make great personal sacrifices or risk our own lives in order to become followers of Christ... should take some time to step back and give prayer, honor and praise to our fellow brothers & sisters in Christ (in countries like Pakistan, Afghanistan, & other restricted nations) who are willing to wear these white robes, all for the sake of Jesus.
Revelations 7
9 After these things I looked, and behold, a great multitude which no one could number, of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, 10 and crying out with a loud voice, saying, "Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!" 11 All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, Thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen." 13 Then one of the elders answered, saying to me, "Who are these arrayed in white robes, and where did they come from?" 14 And I said to him, "Sir,[b] you know."
So he said to me, "These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and 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 dwell among them. 16 They shall neither hunger anymore nor thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any heat; 17 for the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne will shepherd them and lead them to living fountains of waters.[c] And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes."
