141. Входящие в чертог царский

We see that people who want to enter the royal palace dress in light and clean clothes, and so enter; but in rags and vile attire they are not allowed there. So, only those souls who have light and clean clothes, wedding attire and clean linen enter the palace of the Heavenly King; but in sinful rags they are not allowed there. And nothing unclean will enter into it (Rev. 21:27). Christians in holy Baptism, by the grace of God, are stripped of the rags of sin, and put on clean clothes and wedding attire, and thus become worthy of entering that heavenly palace, according to what is written: but you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God (1 Cor. 6:11). They freely enter the house of the Heavenly King, and are participants in all that bliss. If anyone keeps this God-given garment, he is blessed, and truly blessed! Blessed is he who watches and keeps his clothes, lest he walk naked and lest they see his shame (Rev. 16:15). But many Christians - oh the poverty and wretchedness of man! - many lost those richly woven clothes and put on sinful rags again. Such are the fornicators, adulterers and all who live uncleanly. Such are the lovers of money, thieves, predators, robbers and all those who steal the property of others. Such are slanderers, scolders, and deceivers, and all who live lawlessly. All such walk in sinful rags and do not have wedding attire. So, man, judge for yourself, how can a person enter the heavenly palace in such vile clothing? People are not allowed into the chamber of the earthly King in rags; will they be allowed into the heavenly chamber of the Heavenly King in rags? No! Anyone who wants to enter that beautiful palace must take off such vile clothing and put on clean linen. That bright house is illuminated with Divine glory: it is necessary for those who enter it and those who remain in it to be pure and bright. Otherwise, what is the agreement between darkness and light? God! Who will dwell in Your habitation? Or who will dwell on Your holy mountain? The Lord answers: He who walks blamelessly and does righteousness speaks the truth from his heart; who did not flatter his tongue, and did not do evil to his neighbor, and did not accept reproach against his neighbors; he in whose eyes the evil one is despised, who glorifies those who fear the Lord; swears to his neighbor and does not break the oath; who did not lend his silver at interest and did not accept gifts against the innocent. He who does this will never be shaken (Ps. 14:1-5). These are the signs of a soul wearing a wedding robe and entering the palace of the Heavenly King. Christian! Let us look around to see if we have lost that saving garment, and instead of it we are not wearing sinful rags, the wearers of which are not allowed into the heavenly palace. If we notice this, we will try through repentance and faith to put off the rags of sin, and to cleanse and make white the garments of our souls in the Blood of Lambs, so that we, together with those who enter that beautiful palace, will enter and appear to the Face of God, and in that palace we will live and praise the goodness of God forever and ever. A richly woven and saving robe is given freely by the grace of God at Baptism to every Christian; but those who have lost it must search for it with considerable difficulty, repentance, pity, groaning, contrition of heart, weeping and tears. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house: forever and ever they will praise You, O Lord (Ps. 83:5). It is written: Ask, and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you (Matthew 7:7). “I see Your palace, my Savior, decorated; and the imam has no clothes, but I will go into it: enlighten the robe of my soul, Light-Giver, and save me!” You might be interested in: