We can no longer deny it. Surveillance technology is moving closer to us these days. Wearable technology is now available that can monitor your thoughts!
Some of us are feeling more and more nervous about possible intrusion into our personal space. Who would want to wear ear pods at work that allowed your boss to monitor and decode your brain wave activity? Who wants people reading their minds?
But would it surprise you that we are already wearing something that makes public our mental and moral qualities? In the book Education, p. 248, we read: "A person's character is judged by his style of dress." And in the book Messages to Young People, p. 346, 347 we read:
"The outside appearance is frequently an index to the mind, and we should be careful what signs we hang out for the world to judge of our faith."
As I look at the styles of dress being worn around me today, I see a sobering trend.
Have you noticed that the world loves nakedness? It seems that no matter what the latest fashion is there are usually varying degrees of nakedness in the style, whether it is peek-a-boo holes, off the shoulder, low cut, mini skirt, see through skirt, skin tight, open chest or the shredded look. They all draw the attention and can create lust in the eye of the beholder. Not only can this type of dress invoke a reaction in the eye of the beholder, but it reveals the character of the one wearing it. This is no small matter when we consider the realm of influence we have on others day after day and year after year.
Pause for a moment and reflect. How many of us, when shopping for clothes, ask ourselves the question, ‘Will these clothes reveal the fact that I am a child of God and desire to reflect His character?’
When we study God's word, we see that the issue of dress is big with God! Especially the issue of nakedness. In the last book of the Bible Jesus tells us that He is going to come unexpectedly and we will either be happy or embarrassed depending on our dress.
"Behold, I come as a thief. Blessed is he that watcheth, and keepeth his garments, lest he walk naked, and they see his shame" (Rev. 16:15).
What does this mean?
As we turn to the very beginning of God's word, we find God creating Adam and Eve in His image.
How did God clothe them?
"The sinless pair wore no artificial garments; they were clothed with a covering of light and glory, such as the angels wear. So long as they lived in obedience to God, this robe of light continued to enshroud them" (Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 45).
We all know the nightmare of what happened to their lovely clothes of light! "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" (Genesis 3:7). They also hid from God. But God immediately did something to take away their shame. "Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them" (v. 21).
Other Bible stories show us that God desires His people to be protected from the shame of nakedness.
Very detailed directions were given for the priests of God to be covered,
"And thou shalt make them linen breeches to cover their nakedness; from the loins even unto the thighs they shall reach" (Exodus 28:42).
Jesus also healed the mental illness of the madman of the Gadarenes and provided clothes to cover his nakedness,
"Then they went out to see what was done; and came to Jesus, and found the man, out of whom the devils were departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed, and in his right mind..." (Luke 8:35).
It seems that when we are not in our right minds we are careless with our nakedness. In Noah's case his mind was intoxicated. He was drunk and lay uncovered in his tent. Ham saw the nakedness of his father and told his two brothers,
"And Shem and Japheth took a garment, and laid it upon both their shoulders and went backward, and covered the nakedness of their father; and their faces were backward, and they saw not their father's nakedness" (Genesis 9:23).
When Noah awoke and realized what his younger son had done, his family was cursed.
Even Peter knew he needed to be clothed when in the presence of Jesus,
"Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved saith unto Peter, It is the Lord. Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he girt his fisher's coat unto him, (for he was naked,) and did cast himself into the sea" (John 21:7).
Another story of nakedness is recorded just after the Exodus. God had just brought his chosen people out of bondage and was forming the nation that was to represent Him to the world. Moses was in the mount getting the covenant tables of stone from God. When Moses came down and saw the Children of Israel dancing around the golden calf, he was so upset that he threw down the tables of stone and drew a line in the sand,
"And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord's side? Let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him" (Exodus 32:25, 26).
And at the end of the Bible, Jesus gives a sad message to His last day church, which many Seventh-day Adventists feel is our church today,
"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. 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 eye salve, that thou mayest see" (Revelation 3:17, 18).
As we can now see, physical nakedness in the Bible is a symbol of spiritual nakedness and represents an absence of holiness. It is the shameful condition we all find ourselves in since the Fall. But the good news is we have a Savior who chose to take our shame and nakedness and pay the ultimate price so that we could be covered with His own beautiful robe of righteousness!
Let us turn our eyes on Jesus, "who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God" (Hebrews 12:2). This is so amazing, and so hard for us to comprehend, that we wonder how it ever happened! Only a heart of pure love could sacrifice so much! Wouldn't it seem dreadfully shameful on our part to refuse to be covered with such a costly garment, preferring the nakedness of this world?
"So the dress of Christ's followers should be symbolic. In all things we are to be representatives of Him. Our appearance in every respect should be characterized by neatness, modesty, and purity" Messages to Young People, p. 358.
The next time we shop for clothes, let's choose wisely and remember Isaiah 61:9, 10.
"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" (Isaiah 61: 9. 10).
****