Livin Lively

By Peggy Lively

            For the last few months, I have been working through Beth Moore’s Bible study on the book of Revelation. One of the verses we examined in our homework was Revelation 16:15: “Behold, I come like a thief! Blessed is he who stays awake and keeps his clothes with him, so that he may not go naked and be shamefully exposed.” Moore’s question regarding this verse asks, “What do you think the terminology means in reference to not being found naked?”

            As I thought about the answer to this question, I looked up several verses in the Bible that tell us how we are to “clothe” ourselves. One of the verses I found says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.” (Colossians 3:12) Then I also found Romans 13:14 which tells us, “clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the sinful nature.”

            As I looked at Revelation 16:15 again, I also thought about Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. They did not realize that they were naked, and they were not ashamed until sin entered into the picture. “When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” (Genesis 3:6-7) So if through sin, we become “naked,” then we have to find a way to clothe ourselves because all of us have sinned. (Romans 3:23) The only way to adequately cover our sin, or clothe ourselves, is in Jesus Christ.“Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.” (Romans 5:16-17, NLT)

          While it is important for us to clothe ourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, it is even more important that we clothe ourselves with Jesus Christ. Then on that day when He returns like a thief in the night, we will not be found naked. We will be found in Him.

          At the end of time, when the wedding of the Lamb (Jesus) and His bride (His Church, His people) takes place, He will give us what we need to wear: “Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready. It was given to her to clothe herself in fine linen, bright and clean; for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” (Revelation 19:7-8, NASV) Therefore, put your trust in Jesus, clothe yourself in Him. “Salvation is found in no one else.” (Acts 4:12)

“He has clothed me with garments of salvation.” Isaiah 61:10