The Daily Word of Righteousness

White Clothes To Wear,#2

But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid." And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" (Genesis 3:9-11 NIV)

By eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil Adam and Eve indeed did become like God in that they could perceive they were naked. But they had no way of coping with such knowledge. They hid from the Presence of God because of the guilt of disobedience plus being ashamed of the fact they were naked.

God then removed their fig-leaf aprons (or else they did) and clothed them with the skins of animals. Even at this early stage the innocent animals had to die to cover the nakedness of man.

How would God have clothed them had they not eaten of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil? We cannot find out until we come to the new covenant.

The Lamb of God was slain from the creation of the world because God knew what Adam and Eve would do. God did not make them sin. God knew what Satan would do and how Adam and Eve would respond. He just waited until the inevitable took place and the great tapestry unfolded that would reveal to man and the angels the folly of disobeying God.

All inhabitants of the earth will worship the beast all whose names have not been written in the book of life belonging to the Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world. (Revelation 13:8 NIV)

"The Lamb that was slain from the creation of the world."

When we come to the new covenant we find several passages that refer to our being clothed.

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9 NIV)

I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see. (Revelation 3:18 NIV)

Blessed are those who wash their robes, that they may have the right to the tree of life and may go through the gates into the city. (Revelation 22:14 NIV)

The verse immediately preceding is of particular interest because it reveals that we have to wash our robes if we would be given the right to eat of the tree of life and to enter through the gates into the holy city.

The idea of being clothed is an important scriptural concept.

And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. (Revelation 7:14 NIV)

To be continued.