Dressed in His righteousness alone, faultless to stand before the throne

“Blessed is the man that keeps his garments” — Revelation 16:15

The program Runway will keep you abreast of what’s new in fashion for 2025 from streetwear to avant-garde, but God has his own ideas.  In the garden after we sinned, we tried to cover our nakedness/exposure with fig leaves (our own righteousness).  God saw right through our filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6) for all things are naked and open unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do (Hebrews 4:13).  Although  we see the outward appearance, God looks on our hearts  (1 Samuel 16:7).

God cares about our garments (Matthew 6:25-34) so much, he performed the first animal sacrifice to dress Adam and Eve (Genesis 3:21).  The sacrifice and the clothing of skins had to be repeated.  Christ clothes us in righteousness and true holiness. Ephesians 4:22 speaks to us (23) . . be renewed in the spirit of our minds, put off former behaviors of our old person and (24) put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness. (And Philippians 3:9.)  Perhaps we should consider Romans 12:2, not being conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds that we may prove what is that good, and acceptable and perfect, will of God.

When life brings us low, we can put on the garment of praise (from our closet) for the spirit of heaviness.  (Isaiah 61:3) Make a choice:  choose life that we and our children may live (Deuteronomy 30:19).

The virtuous woman of Proverbs 31 clothed herself with strength and honor (verse 25).  She was not afraid of the future because she made sure her household — kids, workers, etc. — were clothed with scarlet, which could be interpreted as the blood of Christ (verse 21).  They were taught the scriptures.  She made fine linen which Revelation 19:8 defines as “the fine linen is the righteousness of the saints”.

Clothes, they say, make the man.  We just feel different depending on how we dress.  Young people behave differently at a prom than on a playground.  We are changed by garments we wear.

In Jesus’ parable of a wedding feast in Matthew 22:1-14, the king had wedding garments specially made for the guests but one person didn’t bother to even put it on.  The king, hearing about it, cast him out.

When was the last time we considered what’s in our spiritual closet?  What are some of our outfits from Colossians 3:12-17:  put on mercy, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering (patience), put up with our fellow human beings, forgive others when we have taken offence  (Psalm 119:165), put on love, the bond of perfection, let the peace of God rule in our hearts (Philippians 4:6-7), be thankful, let God’s word live in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs, sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord and whatever we do in word or deed do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father by him.  

(Cathy Bayert is pastor of Greybull First Baptist Church.)