Covered with His Life

ecently I bought a suit for church. The suit hangs in my closet with the original sales tag still on it. The purchase has placed me in a thought-provoking dilemma. The suit fits spot on, with absolutely no room for growth. I’m thinking in my mind, fall and winter are coming, and a little wiggle room would be helpful. The next suit size up fits with ease but I feel like someone has placed a used burlap sack that used to hold potatoes over me. What should I do? The easy answer is to maintain a healthy weight with good nutrition, exercise, and rest and pick the suit that fits perfectly. Oh, me of little faith!

The human clothing dilemma was very subject discussed in Wednesday evening’s midweek prayer meeting. Adam and Eve were in a desperate search for clothing. The “robe of light” that covered them according to Ellen White was now removed because of their free-will choice to disobey the Creator. The embarrassed couple now faced each other riddled with shame and desperately worked to hide their nakedness with hemmed-together fig leaves. The beauty of God’s moral umbrella was removed, and the first couple faced a clothing crisis of epic proportions. The clothing crisis that began in Eden has existed throughout the history of humanity and knocks on the door of the Laodicean church. The Laodicean church is the last community of faith in the span of prophetic church history. The members of this church are also in a clothing crisis according to Revelation 3. The Laodicean community of believers is counselled to get some new clean clothes because they do not realize that they are uncovered and living in a shameful state of nakedness.

Like the first couple and Laodicean church, we too have a choice in dealing with the age-old clothing crisis. We can continue to run from God seeking to hide our nakedness or we can desperately try to hide our shame by becoming tailors and seamstresses. Ah, but there is another choice that far too few of us choose. Waiting patiently for us is our loving heavenly Father who wants to solve our clothing issues once and for all. Listen to this warming invitation delivered by the prophet Isaiah, “I will rejoice greatly in the Lord, my soul will exult in my God; For He has clothed me with garments of salvation, He has wrapped me with a robe of righteousness.” (Isaiah 61:10)

In Christ Jesus, our clothing dilemma has been solved. When we allow his perfect life of righteousness to cover our shame and nakedness we no longer must run and hide. Saying yes to Jesus is a life-changing decision. Listen to the truth conveyed in F.E Beldon’s hymn, “Cover With His Life.” Beldon writes, “Longing the joy of pardon to know; Jesus holds out a robe white as snow; Lord, I accept it! Leaving my own, Gladly I wear Thy pure life alone. Cover with His life, whiter than snow; Fulness of His life then shall I know; My life of scarlet, my sin, and woe, Cover with His life, whiter than snow.”

For anyone struggling with wardrobe problems, the answer is simple. Put on Jesus and allow His righteousness to cover you completely. Today, choose to be covered and exchange your life of sin and woe for His life and robe of perfect righteousness. Amen!