Dressing for Success
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Ralph was mentally handicapped but basically harmless. He loved to dress in army fatigues and play soldier. A highlight of his career was the day the National Guard rolled through his small Kentucky town in a long convoy of trucks, jeeps, and equipment. Already dressed in his uniform, Ralph thought he would help out by directing traffic. Unsuspectingly the lead vehicles followed Ralph’s directions until they came to a dead-end with nowhere to turn around. Angrily the sergeant relieved Ralph of his duty and slowly began to back the convoy up. Not everyone who dresses as a soldier is one. Not everyone who wears a suit is a success. Not everyone who wears a clerical collar can preach or necessarily knows God. |
CEO’s of many corporations have a course that they require young executives to take on the subject of “Dressing for Success”. They have found that wearing the right clothes can contribute towards success. But if they do not have the right inner qualities they will still fail. “Above all else, guard your heart, for from it flow the springs of life (the issues of life) for it affects everything you do” (Proverbs 4:23).
Just as one can dress for success in the natural world, so you must “Dress for Success” in the kingdom of God. What you wear in the spiritual realm will also reflect your success in the natural realm of your everyday life.
A short story that I read in school years ago was entitled “The Emperor’s New Clothes”. The emperor insisted that his royal tailors make him clothes that no other ruler had that could compare to his. If he was not pleased with his royal attire, the tailors would be put to death. The tailors convinced the emperor that his new clothes were so dazzling that they were invisible. The emperor put his new invisible clothes on and pompously strode down the avenue in his “birthday suit” unaware that he was stark naked.
Jesus confronted the seven churches of Asia. In the book of Revelation He says, “You say I am rich. I have everything I want. I don’t need a thing! And you don’t realize that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked. I advise you. . . . buy white garments so you will not be shamed by your nakedness” (Revelation 3:1-6).
How do you dress for success in the kingdom of God? First - you must wear white. White is symbolic of the righteousness of Christ given to those who repent of their sins and by faith receive Christ. “For with the heart man believes, resulting in righteousness, and with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation” (Romans 10:3-10; I John 1:9, 10; I Corinthians 1:30; Luke 15:22).
Jesus gave a parable of the wedding feast. Only those who had the proper wedding garments on could go into the feast. (See Matthew 22:11.) When you receive Christ you become part of the bride of Christ. You are dressed in white. (See Ephesians 5: 26, 27; Revelation 19:7, 8.)
Second – put on the Lord Jesus Christ. (See Romans 13:14.) When you are born again from above (John 3:3) you become a new creation in Christ (IICorinthians 5:17). Christ comes to live in you and you in Him. Don’t be like the prideful emperor. Put Christ on each day. Don’t leave home without Him (Revelation 3:20).
Third – put on the armor of light. Satan is the lord of darkness. Jesus is the light of the world. “Clothe yourselves with the armor of right living as those who live in the light” (Romans 13:11-14). We combat the enemy with truth. “If we are living in the light of God’s presence, just as Christ is, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, cleanses us from every sin” (I John 1:7).
Forth – put on mercy and love. “You must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, you must make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive the person who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. And the most important piece of clothing you must wear is love. Love is what bands us together in perfect harmony” (Colossians 3:9-15).
It is incredible that after Jesus taught His disciples concerning the Passover meal (the Lord’s Supper) - His body broken for us; His blood shed on the cross as a sacrifice for our sins – that the apostles began to argue amongst themselves about who of them would be greatest in the kingdom of God. Jesus stood up and girded himself with a towel, a servants garment. He took a basin of water and began to wash the disciples feet. Jesus said “And since I your Lord and teacher, have washed your feet, you ought to wash one another’s feet. I have given you an example to follow” (John 13:1-17). To dress for success make sure you put on a servant’s garment. (See Luke 22, John 13.)
Dressing for success in the earthly realm will only get you so far. Are you dressing for success in the kingdom of God? Jesus taught us that it is the path of blessing. (See John 13:17.)
by: Cliff Sanders