Clothed and Covered

Clothing is recognized as one of the three basic needs of mankind; the others are food and shelter. It is forecast that the global apparel retail market will reach US $1,834 billion in 2022, an increase of 29.7 per cent since 2017 (Market Line, 2017).

The work of the players in the textile and apparel industry in dressing the world is highly commendable. They help in keeping our bodies warm and decent. Mankind’s true need for clothing is however far from just dressing up his body.

Scripture tells us that after Adam and Eve disobeyed God, “…the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons” (Genesis 3:7). In an attempt to explain their shame, this is how Adam answered God: “…I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” (Genesis 3:10).

In response, God said to Adam, “…who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” (Genesis 3:11). Notice how God immediately linked Adam’s nakedness to his disobedience in His questioning. To remedy the situation, God made “…coats of skins, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21)

It is evident that shame is a result of nakedness, and mankind is quick to dress his shame. Adam and Eve straightaway made themselves aprons to dress their shame. They did not take time to understand how they became naked. That, in turn, led them to a solution that was limited to their outer man –the physical body.  They were unaware that nakedness and the shame it brings is first and foremost an issue of the inner man; it is a spiritual shortcoming.  That is why, despite having their aprons on, God still found Adam and Eve wanting; and He went ahead to make coats of skins, and clothed them. Notice that God did not dress them; He clothed them.

God dealt with the root of nakedness – sin – by shading the blood of an innocent animal while Adam was busy trying to deal with the effects of nakedness – shame – by dressing up the body which his eyes could see. The lesson here for us is that our attention in life should be focused on being clothed and not simply being dressed.

The garments with which God clothes us with are different from those that we dress up our bodies with. God clothes us with the spirit of glory, and we need to wear that spirit on us always (1 Peter 4:14). When Adam and Eve sinned, the glory of God lifted off their lives; and that is the true meaning of being naked. Without the covering of the spirit of glory, we are naked and open to the enemy.

Shame is a result of coming short of the glory God; and it takes grace for one to be restored to the glory of God. Speaking of the non-believer, the Bible says, “…all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). This is the reason why sin is a disgrace. It causes one to come short of the glory of God, and it frustrates the grace of God – the very way that God has provided for our restoration to His glory.

In his prophesy about God’s clothing, the prophet Isaiah said, “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels.” (Isaiah 61:10).

Elsewhere in the New Testament, the Bible tells us “…be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.” (1 Peter 5:5-7)

“…wives, be in subjection to your own husbands; that, if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives; while they behold your chaste conversation coupled with fear. Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” (1 Peter 3: 1-4). Think about that – wearing a meek and quiet spirit! No amount of dressing up of the body can come close to this type of covering.

In summary, the pathway of grace always leads us to wearing a humble spirit in all our ways, and it is what keeps us clothed with the garments of salvation – the spirit of glory. To step aside from meekness and humility is to step into pride, and to open ourselves to nakedness and shame. “Pride goeth before destruction, and an haughty spirit before a fall” (Proverbs 16:18). Let us stick to the pathway of grace by always being confident in the sufficiency of God’s Word; quick to obey, think it, say it and do it. That is the way we stay clothed in garments of salvation and covered with honour – the spirit of glory.