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Clothes are a ubiquitous necessity. We’ve been wearing them for thousands of years. Nowadays, there’s something for everyone and everything. Clothes for every season and weather—rain, snow, sun, summer, spring, fall and winter. Clothes for every activity from mountain climbing to the beach. But even more important is what we wear on the inside. The Bible talks about people who are clothed with “strength and honour” (Proverbs 31:25) or, on the other side, clothed in violence: “Therefore pride compasseth them about as a chain; violence covereth them as a garment” (Psalm 73:6).

God’s Clothing

The Bible also talks about what God is clothed with: honor and majesty. “Bless the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, thou art very great; thou art clothed with honour and majesty” (Psalm 104:1). The problem is, we fall short of that. “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). “For from within, out of the heart of men, proceed evil thoughts, adulteries, fornications, murders, thefts, covetousness, wickedness, deceit, lasciviousness, an evil eye, blasphemy, pride, foolishness: All these evil things come from within, and defile the man” (Mark 7:21-23).

Trying to Cover Up

Many people are aware of these shortcomings and try to deal with them by being good, by trying to cover themselves up. This isn’t new. Back in the beginning, when Adam and Eve understood they did wrong, they attempted to cover themselves and made aprons of fig leaves.

Paul mentioned that the Israelites of his day were doing the same: “For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. For they being ignorant of God’s righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God” (Romans 10:2-3).

Fast forward to today, and we’re still trying to make our own fig leaf aprons. Whether we’re young or old, rich or poor, we try to deny, cover up, or justify what we’re doing, even with good, religious things that look or are otherwise godly.

Why It Isn’t Enough

The problem is, God doesn’t see our good deeds the same way we do.

“But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away” (Isaiah 64:6). Trusting in our ability to be good and pursue God is like wearing old, worn out, dirty clothes.

But God has provided something else to wear if we’ll receive it. The story of the prodigal son in Luke 15 is a great example of the clothes Jesus offers.

In that story, there’s a son who requests his inheritance ahead of time, leaves home and uses it for partying, and he ultimately ends up feeding pigs. In the Jewish culture, that was really low (like the gutter), as pigs were something to avoid. He was so hungry, he wanted to eat the pigs’ food, but he didn’t get anything. There he realizes how much better even servants at home had it. He decides to return home, and just wants to be a servant at His father’s house. Before he gets home, the father sees him afar off, runs out to meet him and ultimately clothes him with “the best robe” (Luke 15:22). He’s so happy his son is back that he throws a celebration/feast. I’d encourage you to read the whole story.

What Jesus Did

When you do read the story, remember that Jesus is that father, and we’re the prodigal son. We’ve departed from a good and just God, and there’s stuff in the way now. But Jesus, being part of the Godhead, came down to this world, clothed himself in humanity, willingly suffered the wrath due our rebellion to the law, and paid the penalty our sins deserve—death—so that He could offer us a place if we’d repent and come home.

“Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:6-8).

“He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:3-6).

“To wit, that God was in Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 5:19-21).

But He rose from the dead, proven with over 500 eyewitnesses (1 Corinthians 15:4-8). Now He ever lives to make intercession.

“But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens; Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself” (Hebrews 7:24-27).

But we have to receive that intercession, that gift.

Receive the Gift

“For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23). How we do that is by humbling ourselves and resting in what Jesus did, by agreeing with God about our ragged, sinful nature, and receiving (yielding to) what Jesus offers.

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

“But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:” (John 1:12). Just come to God in prayer, and confess and yield your sinfulness and self effort, receive His gift, trusting Him alone.

“Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price. Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? And your labour for that which satisfieth not? Hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness. Incline your ear, and come unto me: hear, and your soul shall live; and I will make an everlasting covenant with you, even the sure mercies of David” (Isaiah 55:1-3).

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