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The following is reprinted with permission
of The Timely Messenger
On Being Fashionable
By Charles W. Wages
Fashions come and fashions go as far as the world is concerned. One thing
is certain and that is change, and it can be seen for sure in human dressl
The fashion industry not only changes clothes, it changes itself and it
eventually changes even the personality of those who purchase its products.
There is a warning in Scripture about our being affected by the fashion
of this world.
"And they that use this world as not abusing it; for the fashion
of this world passeth away."
This is not principally talking about clothing, of course, but all the
many facets of our life on earth.
The word "fashion" in scripture is akin to other words such
as "conform" "transform," and "change."
Although they are slightly different, they convey the same truth in many
instances.
We are "beseeched" in Romans 12:1-2, "I beseech you
therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God that ye present your bodies
a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God which is your reasonable
service. And be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by
the renewing of your mind that ye may prove what is that good and acceptable,
and perfect will of God."
I don't think God is too interested in whether we wear blue jeans and
a shirt or a well tailored suit; however how we wear them and for what
purpose is important. A striking example is the words the Lord Jesus used
of the scribes when He said, "Beware of the scribes which love
to go in long clothing and love salutations in the market place"
(Mark 12:38).
The most important "clothing" for the believer is found in
Romans 13:14, "But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not
provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof."
This has to do with our testimony in our daily walk as believers. This
daily walk is in contrast to the preceding verses which speak of rioting
and drunkenness, strife and envying. The salvation that God has so graciously
given to those who have believed in the Lord Jesus Christ as Saviour involves
more than our present life and walk for Him. It involves our future bodies
in glory. But what does this have to do with clothing? In Philippians
3:20-21 we read, "For our conversation is in heaven: from whence
also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ; Who shall change
our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto His glorious body, according
to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
Note that believers are promised a newly fashioned body. The word "fashioned"
is an important word here. It involves a change, a forming of a heavenly
body. A body that fits us to live in gloryl We are not told exactly what
this new body will look like, but we can know something of it. This "change
from our vile bodies to bodies of glory that are fashioned like His body
of glory" will take place at the coming of our Lord for His church.
(1 Thess. 4:13-18). This will take place in "the twinkling of an
eye" (1 Cor. 15:51-53). We remember when our Lord appeared to the
disciples in Luke 24, He said to them in verse 39, "Behold my hands
and my feet, that it is I myself; handle me, and see; for a spirit hath
not flesh and bones, as ye see me have." Note, there was no mention
of blood. Why? He shed His blood, for the forgiveness of our sinsl When
He returns to earth to set up His kingdom, the people of Israel will recognize
Him as the One they crucified!
What about us as members of His Church, the Body of Christ? We might
not know exactly what we will look like, but 1 John 3:2 gives us great
joy and anticipation.
"Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear
what we shall be; but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be
I like Him for we shall see Him as He is." That body of glory
will always be in "fashion" because God "fashioned it and
it will always be "in style". The great question for believers
today is how will we use our physical bodies today as members of the Body
of Christ?
Again, Romans 12:1-2 is so important.
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