Changing Clothes

There is a worldwide fascination with fashion. Magazines and papers tell us what the rich and famous wear and how much they cost. One Gucci and Chanel outfit can cost $100,000. The most expensive dress in the world is valued at $30 million. People make fashion statements with their wardrobes, and thousands of others try to imitate them. However, these earthly garments are not the most valuable clothes in the world.

The Apostle Paul talks to the Ephesians and us about their clothes, not the ones on their bodies, but the ones on their souls. In this passage, Paul tells us what we need to put off and what to put on. It is the Wardrobe of the Redeemed. The Apostle tells them before they knew Christ, their hearts were hard and dead toward God, and because of that, they “indulged kind of impurity, and they are full of greed” (Ephesians 4:17-19). This a chilling description of how ugly we can be without Christ.

Not everyone sinks to the depths of depravity mentioned here. Yet, this is a valid picture of our world in general. Ask yourself, how was it possible for the atrocities to have been committed against children and babies in Israel on Oct 7, 2023? All lives without Christ are dominated by sin. Today’s movies, video games, and internet porn confirm the same truths about our world: hardness—darkness---deadness all lead to unrestrained sinfulness.

Paul urges the Ephesians to “put off your old self” (Eph 4:22). Our growing up demands we “put away” some things while putting on others. Paul says the first obvious change is the attitude, “to be made new in the attitude of your minds” (Eph 4:23). Isn’t it amazing that attitude is the window into our soul. It tells the world how we think and view everything.

It is hard to put off old habits and attitudes because we have long had them. Many of them we grew up with and learned from our parents. But that doesn’t mean we have to live them our entire lives. We can change, and God is willing and able to help us. This is the work of the Spirit to help us change our clothes. We have to shed our old habits every day whenever they pop up. Many Christians stumble because they don’t do this daily. If we want to wear the Redeemed Wardrobe, we must shed the old and put on the new.

Here is an example of what that wardrobe looks like: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control” Galatians 5:22-23).

 

 

Maturity is the Goal

Maturity changes our lives for the better. It keeps us from being petty and making decisions based on faulty information. The Apostle Paul urged the Ephesians to pursue maturity because, as mature adults, they would no longer be babies. He said, “Then we will no longer be infants, tossed back and forth by the waves, and blown here and there by every wind of teaching and by the cunning and craftiness of people in their deceitful scheming” (Eph 4:14).

When people are gullible and easily influenced by the latest book, preacher, or fad, they are vulnerable to the wolves, of which plenty are trying to devour the flock. Maturity brings the capacity to evaluate and accept what is good and right and reject what is not.

This is what Paul expressed to the Romans: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2).

Pastor James Hamill used to tell this story about how fickle preachers can be. He said that when he was a kid, he used to have to feed the pigs. When he would dump the corn in their trough, there would invariably be one little pig that would grab one kernel of corn and take off squealing as only a pig can. It was as if the little pig was saying, “Look at me and see what I have.” The other pigs would leave the full trough of corn and follow the squealing pig for the one little kernel of corn. Pastor Hamill would say he has seen the same in the ministry over the years. One little preacher would leave the abundance of God’s Word and take off with one kernel of truth, yelling and screaming that he had found something special. Other preachers would leave the incredible fullness of God’s Truth to follow this little squeaking preacher.

How many pastors and teachers have been guilty of this because they wanted to be popular or because they were too lazy to study God’s Word for themselves? The church needs to be taught the truths of God’s Word so it can mature.

Paul said that mature people speak the truth in love, “Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ” (Eph 4:15).

A mature church creates an atmosphere where people are inspired to be all they can be for the Lord. That is not easy because we have to self-discipline and work together in unity. This can only be done when people see the goal as belonging to the body of Christ and reflecting his glory.