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Just as our physical body needs food to live, so too does our inner being need nourishment anew each day. This spiritual food is the Word of God. If we reflect more closely on our inner being, our true self, we realize that we should provide it not only with food but also with clothing. Have you ever thought about that?
The proverb says, "You receive by your clothes and part by your mind." This is especially true when we meet someone for the very first time. We look at their appearance and, in a matter of seconds, categorize them. Whether well-groomed or disheveled, appropriate for the occasion or not—clothing creates that famous "first impression." If someone shows up at church in work clothes, they're sure to raise some eyebrows.
For us humans, these outward appearances are very important. We wear different clothes depending on the occasion: for work, for home, for church services, and even for sleeping. For God, however, there is essentially no difference between work clothes and festive attire. All of this applies to our physical appearance.
I would now like to turn our attention to the clothing of our inner selves. It is possible, for example, that we may appear outwardly beautiful and well-dressed to our fellow human beings, yet simultaneously stand before God in a completely desolate state. When Adam and Eve still lived in Paradise, they were unclothed and felt no shame about it. After their fall, however, their nakedness was the first thing they suddenly noticed. After they had eaten the forbidden fruit and God called to Adam, he replied, "I heard your voice in the garden and was afraid" (Genesis 3:10). Their former normal state became a source of shame, so they covered themselves with clothing made of leaves.
It is possible that we may appear outwardly very beautiful and appropriate to our fellow human beings, but at the same time stand before God in a completely desolate state.
When we sin, our behavior resembles that of Adam and Eve after their fall from grace. We begin to hide from the face of God because shame oppresses us and fear of his gaze overwhelms us.
I'd like to share an example from our church life. During one of our services, spiritual gifts began to take effect, and a word from God came to some through the vessels. Meanwhile, some spiritually weakened young people hid in another room to wait for the service to end. But God had seen them there in their spiritual nakedness as well. Through a vessel, He spoke directly to the group: "Come out, I see you there too. Unless you repent, your nakedness will be exposed to everyone." Fearfully, they came out, repented before God, and pleaded for mercy.
Let us look at what the Word of God says on this subject and read from Paul's second letter to the Corinthians: "If we are found clothed and not naked" (2 Corinthians 5:3). Elsewhere we find these words: "For you say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and lack nothing.' Yet you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiable, poor, blind, and naked. I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so that you may become rich; and white garments, so that you may cover yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and salve for your eyes, so that you may see" (Revelation 3:17-18). God is not speaking here to people who do not know Him and do not believe in Him. This word is addressed to the church. More precisely, it is addressed to the angels of the church, in other words, to the ministers of the church.
If I imagine that this word were addressed to me as a servant of our church, what would the Lord say in my case? What would the Lord say in your case? God assessed the state of the church in Laodicea very differently than they did themselves. He perceived them as naked and advised them to buy white clothing from Him.
When we first came to God, He gave birth to our inner being anew. In the Spirit, we received a new life. The Holy Spirit entered our hearts, but our bodies remained the same. The same character, the same inclinations and weaknesses remained. The body wants to eat well, sleep a lot, and generally live as comfortably as possible. However, the newborn spirit within also has needs. And if we don't attend to its needs and don't take care to appear spiritually clothed before the Lord, He will see our nakedness. This nakedness can manifest in many different ways. Whether blasphemy, pride, or irritability—spiritual nakedness always appears as the absence of the fruit of the Spirit.
God addresses His people, His church: “For you say, ‘I am rich and have an abundance.’” Perhaps we, too, might say, “We have a magnificent church building, superb acoustics, beautiful music, choral singing, and even one or more orchestras. We hold frequent and regular church services and pray in our gatherings, even in other languages.” But we must realize: all of this is not enough to be in a proper state before the Lord! The Word of God clearly states that we must all appear before the judgment.
Everyone will have to answer to God for their conduct. If we were to say to Him, “Since I was baptized, I haven’t lied to anyone, I haven’t smoked even once, I haven’t drunk alcohol, and I haven’t cheated on my spouse,” would God praise us for that? He would say, “You received all of this from me. I freed you from sin and baptized you with the Holy Spirit. I gave you a sound mind and the abilities to serve Me.” All of this would be insufficient to justify us before God. For this reason, the Apostle Paul exhorts us to be clothed, not naked.
Besides caring for the nourishment of our inner being, we must also attend to clothing. But what kind of clothing should we be so concerned about? When we open our wardrobe at home, we usually have a wide selection of clothes. Sometimes we even boast to each other about our expensive and beautiful clothes. But with what clothing can we praise ourselves before God? With what garments can our spiritual wardrobe be filled so that we can take something out and put it on?
Spiritual nakedness always manifests as the absence of the fruit of the Spirit.
After the Fall, God saw the nakedness of Adam and Eve and made them clothes instead of the leaves they had tried to cover themselves with. It is clear that sacrifices had to be made for this. God had to kill animals to make clothes for the two humans. What clothes does God give us? In the book of the prophet Isaiah, we find these words: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul exults in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom puts on his headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10). Here the prophet speaks about the clothes God gives us. He calls them: “garments of salvation, a robe of righteousness, a bridegroom’s headdress, and a bride’s jewels.”
Job also writes about the clothing he put on: “The righteousness I had clothed me; my justice was like a robe and a turban” (Job 29:14). Job clothed himself with truth. When he spoke the truth in his life and walked in the truth, people and God saw it. When judging difficult matters, he called black black and white white. Such sincere judgment enveloped him like a garment. In other words, he was honest in everything, and he called that his spiritual clothing. When we read about the church in Revelation, we find these words: “It was given to her to wear fine linen, clean and bright, for fine linen represents the righteousness of the saints” (Revelation 19:8).
God clothed Adam and Eve with garments of leather. But God has clothed us with the righteousness of the saints. He saw our spiritual nakedness, our sinful inclinations that live in the members of our bodies. God sent Jesus to us on earth, through whose sacrificial death we can receive righteousness. Now God looks upon us through the righteousness of His Son. Thank God! These are wonderful garments that cover our spiritual nakedness.
God has bestowed upon us the righteousness of the saints. He saw our spiritual nakedness and sent Jesus, through whose sacrificial death we can receive righteousness. Now God looks upon us through the righteousness of His Son.
When we live in the faith and truth of Jesus Christ, it covers all our faults and spiritual nakedness. In this case, God sees us as clothed. Whether I'm wearing a fine suit or my work clothes, if I live righteously and honestly address all my life's issues before God, then I will be seen as clothed before the Lord.
In his letter to the Colossians, Paul expands our “spiritual wardrobe.” He shows us what else we should clothe ourselves with: “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with one another and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone else. Forgive as Christ forgave you” (Colossians 3:12-13).
This gives us a much greater variety in our spiritual garments. Performing works of mercy is a wonderful garment. Wrapping ourselves in kindness and humility, and showing gentleness and patience, is what clothes our spiritual person. Above all, it can be said freely that the most solemn spiritual garment is love. When we love our neighbors, strangers, and even our enemies, this is the best clothing in which we can walk before God. Let us examine today whether and with what we have clothed our inner person, so that we do not appear naked before the Lord. May God help us in this!
The most solemn spiritual garment is love.
Andreas Babi
Bishop from Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine
from Slova Christianina 2019/2