In one of the Prophet Zechariah’s ten Old Testament visions he saw a man named Joshua, who was a High Priest of Israel. And he was inexplicably wearing “filthy garments!”
But the LORD immediately took care of the situation. Almighty God said, in fact: “Take away the filthy garments from him. And unto him (Joshua) he said, “Behold, I have caused thine iniquity to pass from thee, and I will clothe thee with change of raiment.” Zechariah 3:4
Wow!
And the Prophet Isaiah mentions our wearing “filthy rags,” if we are depending on our own merit before the Lord! See Isaiah 64:6 … “But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf.”
In the New Testament this same word picture holds. The Apostle Paul is found using the “put off” then “put on” metaphor. Ephesians 4:22, Colossians 3:8-9 are two examples.
Furthermore Romans 13:12 is classic in this sense: “The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” This means “to put on,” as in wearing something spiritually proper!
And even John in the Book of Revelation sees a multitude who have “washed their robes, and made them white in the Blood of the Lamb.” Revelation 7:14, presumably their original robes were dirty!
But the Bride of Christ, the New Testament Church, probably gives us the best illustration of “what we’re wearing.” Revelation 19:8 describes the scene: “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.”
Praise the Lord!
Are your spiritual clothes “filthy” or “clean?” Have you been born again, saved by the Grace of God?
Then one more thought … in a surprising “turn,” the Bible in Judges 6:34 says … “The Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon.” The verb “came upon” translates “labash,” which literally means “to wear” or “to put on!”
Now we have God the Third Person WEARING Gideon!
I’m thinking thre best way to don clean garments might just be inviting the Holy Spirit to “PUT YOU ON” and use you to the glory of God! He sure used Gideon that way.
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
In Ephesians chapter 6 Paul gives us yet another idea about a suitable Christian wardrobe. “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.” Verse 11 of Ephesians 6.
Seems that what we wear is critically important!
This morning I believe sincerely that I am wearing (in God’s Eyes) the very Righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ! I base that bold thought on 2 Corinthians 5:21. “For He (God the Father) hath made Him (Jesus) to be sin for us, Who knew no sin; THAT WE MIGHT BE MADE THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF GOD IN HIM.”
Hallelujah!
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