A few days ago I began thinking on the imagery of the thought that we hold onto our wounds like a cloak or a safety blanket – there’s a kind of comfort in holding them close and nestling into their remembrance. We resist laying them down as though doing so exposes us to further pain. No one likes to feel naked except by choice and in utter.. complete… safety – just look at the universality of the dreams in which people wake in a cold sweat having seen themselves suddenly naked in public. Exposed, naked, vulnerable are all pretty synonymous.
The idea of laying down our wounds is just like that – it’s frightening. What if by doing so we’re saying those wounds didn’t hurt or don’t matter? What if by laying them down we invite more pain? What if the stripping is more than we can bear?
But the thing is – God has other ways to clothe us. He always knew we’d need that.
This series of not incredibly amazing pictures is a bit of a take-off on the Armour of God in Ephesians 6, illustrating some of the ways we try to clothe, cover and protect ourselves. But He’s got a new wardrobe if we’ll let Him re-dress us.
Its not like He hasn’t already seen us each naked right?
And it’s not that He wants to leave us vulnerable. Quite the opposite.
Our own attempts at covering and protecting are destined for discomfort, decay and more pain. After all’s said and done – it’s all made of fig leaves.
So the Wrap of Woundedness is what started this thought process but each of the pieces of “The Armour of Self” is a whole message.
Opinions can’t save us.
Self rightness isn’t Righteous.
The Belt of Pride sheaths an unholy sword.
The Shield of Anger blocks truth out and deception or bitterness in. Plus it’s ever so heavy.
The Jump Shoes of Assumption – able to leap large distance with a few easy bounds.
The Tunic of Shame – scratchy and breezy from the hemline up. Like someone said “eveyone is still naked under their clothes”. Sin be sin – no matter how it’s humanly dressed. Shame be shame no matter how it’s humanly concealed.
The Wrap of Woundedness – able to bring false comfort to all it shrouds.
Accessories – carried neatly on the Forgiveness Post of Ponement. Delay and you too can lay down at night on your Bedroll of Bitterness with your Satchel of Offences as a pillow with your Shovel of Muck to keep the stench exposed.
These are poor armoury.
THE ARMOUR OF SELF – WITH ACCESSORIES
Let the fig leaves fall
His clothing won’t perish.
Gen 3:21 6-7 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.
Gen 3:21 The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.
There are so many ways He wants to clothe us. He has garments of praise, robes of righteousness, coverings and clothing that will never slip or perish or fail.
2 Cor 5:1-5 For we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands. Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed instead with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life. Now the one who has fashioned us for this very purpose is God, who has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come
Gal 3:23-27 Before the coming of this faith, we were held in custody under the law, locked up until the faith that was to come would be revealed. So the law was our guardian until Christ came that we might be justified by faith. Now that this faith has come, we are no longer under a guardian. So in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith, for all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ.
Eph 6:13-17 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Isa 61:1-11 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion—to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of joy instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations.
Strangers will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the LORD, you will be named ministers of our God.
You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast.
Instead of your shame you will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace you will rejoice in your inheritance. And so you will inherit a double portion in your land, and everlasting joy will be yours.
“For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them.
Their descendants will be known among the nations and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed.”
I delight greatly in the LORD; my soul rejoices in my God. For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of his righteousness, as a bridegroom adorns his head like a priest, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.
Let the fig leaves fall.