It is that time of year for me when I get a strong urge to get organized and go through my “stuff.” Perhaps it is the pristine calendar on my desk, minus erasure marks and ink scribbles., all crisp and white, that inspires me to take this on. I do this every new year. Sometimes the efforts result in just moving stuff around without really shedding items that are no longer useful. I often skip reevaluating the clothes because I will have to face two dreaded enemies: the passage of time and doing the math about unwanted poundage.
As I began to sort, I came across a few things that no longer fit into the direction of style I am headed and literally didn’t physically fit. Things were too short, but apparently, I hadn’t gained any height. So into the box went a few of what I like to call classic, timeless pieces that I am deeply attached to and have had for longer than I care to admit. Parting with clothing that brings back memories can be a little like a mourning process. The items worn to special events and family vacations pull me into a visit with the past, but these pieces no longer function for my lifestyle now. There are even a few “funeral” clothes that I don’t want to wear again, but if I live long enough, the need will arise. During this sorting, the writer in me realized my wardrobe tells a story about my life in ways I never really thought about.
When I was in the praying stage of this devotional, I was still in the closet, virtually sorting, when a thought crossed my mind. While the Lord instructs us to put on the whole armor of God, did you know that God also gives us direction about what to put off? Earlier in Ephesians, we find in chapter 4 that we, as God’s children, are instructed to put off our old selves. Later in Ephesians 6:10-20 we receive the words about putting on the armor of God when we have put on our new selves with renewed minds and spirits. Some of the clothes I was sorting in the closet didn’t fit well, but I attempted to try them on over top of a sweater and jeans I already had. The only way I could know for sure about the fit was to put them on as if I were dressing for the day. I can’t help but think of all the poor attempts I had made throughout my life to unsuccessfully put on the armor of God. You know, putting it overtop of some of the things I am deeply attached to and have worn longer than I want to admit. Things like self-will and self-preservation.
At the onset of the Ephesians 6:10-20 passage, God tells us to put on the WHOLE armor. I cannot put a spiritual set of clothing on that is fabricated solely of the righteousness of Christ when I am already wearing a whole suit of clothes that have been made by self, for self. These garments are of poor quality but appeal to my pride and flatter my ego. They show wear quickly and are always left tattered when I try to pass them off as something other than what they are. The armor of God will hold up in my life and is suitable for work, battle, and dress. But it will only fit as foundational garments and cannot be separated into pieces where we can grab one part as an accessory. The Shield of faith( Eph 6:16) works in conjunction with the helmet of salvation (Eph 6:17). The belt of truth (Eph 6:14) is a counterpart to the breastplate of righteousness etc. Baring myself before God, recognizing and confessing my spiritual nakedness before Him, is humbling and necessary, for it opens the door of the wardrobe of the Lord where He is anxious to dress me in His best design.
However, I need to recognize that my flesh, that part of me resistant to the Lord’s work in my life and character, longs to slip into something more comfortable. Things like doubt and compromise are fashionable, as are the sins like mouthiness, judgment, coveting, anger, and selfishness. I realized I needed to clean out my spiritual closet and cast aside the things that I have put on that keep me from experiencing the comfort and safety that the armor of God affords me. I have not because I wear not. After shedding those old garments that hinder me, I have to actively engage, cooperate with the Holy Spirit and PUT ON the armor (Ephesians 6:11). God’s desire for me is to willingly and consciously embrace all He has for me.
If you read the preceding chapters of Ephesians, it doesn’t take long to see that one thing the Lord expects is the change Christ has made in my character to be revealed in my relationships. Everything from the married to the working, to children and parents, is addressed, but also in our relationship with Christ. The book has an overall theme of the new self and what the result of that looks like, and how it manifests itself in the world around us. These scriptures also remind us of what we will face and battle against in our walking out of our faith in this new life Christ has imparted to us. The Bible clearly reminds us that we will face evil forces, schemes of the enemy, powerful authorities of spiritual darkness. God has said because these battles are a reality, we must be adequately dressed at all times. Therefore the armor of God is not to be treated as a set of Sunday go-to-meeting clothes, but as the foundational workwear for every heaven-bound pilgrim in daily life. Everyday 24/7/365. It is ready to wear, appropriate for day or evening wear. It can be slept in and never soiled. It is stainproof and won’t fade or wear out. It is custom-tailored and fitted specifically to me. In battle, it will not fail and is guaranteed by the manufacturer. Just like my own closet of clothes, the armor of God tells a story about my life and how Christ is ever near and faithful to me. At the end of my days, it will be an amazing testimony of how God brought me through the battle. I will trade in my armor for robes of white and a crown as promised by the Lord, And in heaven, there will be no funeral clothes in God’s closet, for life will be everlasting!
Lord, come into my closet. Help me cast off, pack up and allow you to carry away all the old rags I attempt to hang onto. Let me take off every garment of the old self and put on the newness you have for me. Thank you, Jesus, for being clothed in your righteousness alone and not sending me into the world unprepared for the battle.
Come back next time where the 5 o’clock worker cinches up the belt of truth as the new series “The Wardrobe” continues.
5oclockworker.com 
So good! New perspective
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