What it Means to be Spiritually Clothed

 

The essence and significance of clothing since the fall of man in the garden of Eden till this moment cannot be underemphasized nor overemphasized. Clothing being one of the basic need of humanity, is normally expected to be met always. But nowadays, spiritual and physical clothing is either slightly neglected, least paid attention to or considered insignificant. We now have different sorts of clothing materials, and many of these materials are best considered nudity. What difference then does it make when what is supposed to be covered is made open? The sadden truth is that the devil has so much corrupted many things in such a that the goodly is perceived uncultured, while the ungodly is what is greatly acceptable and valued.  

We are going to be considering what it really means to be spiritually naked. We will be considering three occurrences as regards this topic. Let’s start with the life of Adam and Eve. Let’s see what Genesis 2:25 says. It reads “and they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” This text revealed that they were naked but not ashamed. Absolutely, the contextual effect of this kind of nakedness is such that it has no negative implication. One of the things I tell people is that one must always strive(by the revelation of the Holy Spirit) to deduce the spiritual message of what is said in any and/or all bible passage(s).

Adam and Eve were naked but not ashamed. It means that they were physically naked but spiritually covered. You will realize what Genesis 3:7-10 says as the direct opposite of what was said in chapter 2 verse 25.

It says “7 and the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. 8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. 9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? 10 And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” This other type of nakedness reveals a number of negative effects. What differentiated the former and latter kinds of nakedness is majorly their individual effect.

The next as regards the topic we are considering is essentially the garment of Aaron. There is so much that went into the making of the garment and even the garment itself. Exodus 28:2 explicitly told us the reason for having this garment. It’s “for glory and for beauty.” Did you notice that glory preceded beauty? This implies that this garment is firstly for glory and thereafter for beauty. Spiritual clothing aren’t firstly for beauty, but rather for glory primarily. It’s the glory that owns and holds the beauty. Something being beautiful does not necessarily implies it’s glorious. However, glory will always reveal it’s beauty. The same thing happened to Adam and Eve in the garden. The garment of glory they were originally clothed with was taken away then shame, fear, nakedness and inability to stand in the presence of God covered them.

As regards the garment of Aaron, it legalized and enabled Aaron to minister as a priest in his office. Without that garment into the priest’s office, he will drop dead in no time. Let’s see about three verses in the chapter 2 of the book of Exodus. It reads “1 and take thou unto thee Aaron thy brother, and his sons with him, from among the children of Israel, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office, even Aaron, Nadab and Abihu, Eleazar and Ithamar, Aaron's sons. 2 And thou shalt make holy garments for Aaron thy brother for glory and for beauty. 3 And thou shalt speak unto all that are wise hearted, whom I have filled with the spirit of wisdom, that they may make Aaron's garments to consecrate him, that he may minister unto me in the priest's office.”

There is a truth I want us to establish from scriptures as regards God’s description. The next few verses explains better. They are:

“1 Peter 1:16-Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.”

“1 Chronicles 16:29-Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before him: worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

“Psalms 29:2-Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name; worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness.”

“Psalms 96:9-O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.”

The truth I’m making here is that it is by holiness that this spiritual garment is kept and maintained. Among the many things that went with Aaron’s garment is the engravings of a signet as revealed in Exodus 28:36. You remember that verse of scripture that says “for all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God?” The glory there refers to our garment, now called the garment of salvation.

Alright, the last as regards what we’ve been discussing is the diagnosis of Jesus to the church of the Laodiceans. This particular church claims to have everything and doesn’t need anything. Jesus’ diagnosis revealed their actual condition. They overrode the physical over the spiritual. They must have thought that having no lack in the physical implies a corresponding adequacy and sufficiency in the spirit. Revelation 3:16-18 says “16 so then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.”

We must therefore “as ye have yielded your members servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.”

Blessed are we when we walk and live in God’s prescribed kind of holiness.

Thanks for reading.