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In a recent sermon on clothing worn by priests in the book of Exodus, our pastor started out by talking about actors on the red carpet at award shows.  They are always asked, “Who are you wearing”?  Sometimes the answer is Versace, Dior, Armani, etc. I’ll never have the wherewithal (or the desire!) to wear pricy, often really strange garb like these stars do. Although that Sunday’s sermon was an illustration for the topic of God being the Great Designer of priestly garb, I got to thinking, “Who am I wearing”?  Who am I really wearing?

While we’d always like to say we’re wearing Christ, sometimes our wardrobes don’t always show it. Out of the dirty clothes hamper we pull out all kinds of sinful articles of clothing: impure thoughts, complaining, gossip, all kinds of idolatry, etc.  How did they get there and what can we do about it?

Once we are justified by faith, through the shed blood of Jesus, we are sons of God and are called to “put on Christ” (Galatians 3:27). We are to get rid of those sinful earthly rags which include any kind of idolatry along with anger, slander, lying, any part of our old self we are to put off (Colossians 3).  In its place we are to put on the fresh white robes of righteousness provided by Christ who has

clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels (Isaiah 61:10).  

God has picked out our wardrobe! Colossians 3:12 tells us we are to be clothed in compassion, humility, kindness, gentleness and patience.

How can we possibly fulfill this great calling to put on Christ daily?  After all, the Devil and his army are strong and hell-bent on making us stumble. However, they are no match for our mighty God, who has equipped us to fight the intentions of the evil one. As Ephesians 6 tells us,

Put on the whole armor of God that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

That armor includes the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, to whom we are to continually pray. And that sword is not an ordinary sword.  As it says in verse 17, that sword is the Word of God.

So if asked “Who are you wearing?” we can humbly answer that by the grace of God, we have put on Christ. We may not be walking on any earthly red carpet, but we as God’s children will someday walk on streets of gold with the Great Designer who loves us enough to clothe us in white robes of righteousness paid for by the precious blood of Christ.