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God’s Dress Code
Zechariah
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments” (Zechariah 3:4).[/perfectpullquote]
“Clothes make the man” may not be completely true, but clothing indicates something about a person. During my college years, rock band t-shirts were all the rage, sold only at the finest 24- hour head shops. Decorative t-shirts still serve as billboards displaying who or what we like, what we support, how we think.
Certain clothes may give an impression of wealth, occupation, and status, as well as a representation of one’s attitude about their surroundings. I recall going into a store after church, sporting my Sunday suit, and being asked if I were a lawyer because of how I was dressed. Clothing makes an impression.
Joshua was high priest during Israel’s return from exile. The high priest’s work clothes were designed and mandated by God through Moses in Exodus 28. However, in Zechariah Chapter 3, he appears before God, with clothes covered with — Let’s just say the word for “filthy” is the strongest word possible and leave it to your imagination — and Satan was accusing Joshua of being unfit. But the LORD ordered a new high priest suit for Joshua, one befitting his station. God forgave Joshua’s sin and dressed him for service.
Notice that God is the one who forgives the sin, provides the clothing, and equips for service (Verse 4–5). Satan is “the accuser of our brothers [who will be] thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God“ (Revelation 12:10). Notice how he picks on believers, as he did Job (Job 1:11). There is no point in accusing unbelievers, because they do not serve God anyway. Satan goes after God’s children to prove them unfit for salvation and service. But God overrules Satan and makes us fit for both.
Jesus tells the parable of the king’s wedding feast, where people “both bad and good” were invited (Matthew 22). As the king vetted the guests, he saw a man with no wedding garment. He was immediately ejected from the wedding and cast into outer darkness. Inappropriate spiritual attire does, at the least, cast suspicion on one’s sincerity.
Paul elaborates on the Christian’s new wardrobe in Colossians Chapter 3. In Verse 9, he refers to “the old self,” or “the old man,” that is removed at salvation. Being clothed in “garments of salvation” and “robes of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10), we are to live the new life in the image and knowledge of God as exemplified by Christ (Vv. 10–11).
Just like the high priest wore certain ornaments to display and facilitate his new calling, we are to adorn ourselves with traits that proclaim our allegiance to God (V. 12). Only then can we be fit for service which, by the way, encompasses all of life (V. 19). If we wear the merit badges of holiness, compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience, and forgiveness (all without regard to color, gender, religion, and status (V. 11)), Satan will have no basis for accusations.
As the seasons change, we clean out our closets and remove the garments that no longer fit. We make sure we have appropriate garb for work, church, the beach, gardening, and so on. Is it time to clean out your spiritual closet and fashion yourself after God’s dress code?
-Alan Allegra
