THE CHILDREN'S GARMENTS

Scripture uses the well-known figure of clothing to describe how we appear in God's sight. We read, for instance, of festival robes, garments of salvation and garments of praise. I remember a believer who was said by his friends to be the best-dressed Christian known to them, yet he was not a rich man. The reason was that, in particular, he was "clothed with humility". This garment should of course be amongst the simple yet rich raiment always worn by those who know God. In fact it is available to suit even the youngest and smallest as well as the greatest of us. It actually grows on the believer as he or she develops in the true knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. Of Him it is written that, coming into human form, He "humbled himself, becoming obedient even unto death".

During the years that the Israelites journeyed through the desert it must have been something wonderful for the children that their clothing did not grow old nor their feet become weary. Doubtless, as the children grew up, the dresses, coats and other garments had to be passed down the family or to another household. Yet there would be no complaints because the clothes would be always new! This was by God's miraculous power. For the believer the teaching is that, however trying the path of faith may be, we always have the power by the Holy Spirit to appear before God clothed freshly in His own thoughts for us. The feet not growing weary shows likewise that there is power to walk in daily life to His constant pleasure.

Preachers of the gospel often remind us of the way in which our Saviour-God clothed our first parents, Adam and Eve, in coats of skin. By their consciences they knew - as every awakened sinner knows - that they needed to be made suitable for His presence, and their own efforts were without avail. The garments of skin given to them had their origin in the death of another, beautiful type of the death of the Lord Jesus. This made a covering, or atonement, for the very sin that brought death into the human race and for all the sins of those who believe. You may not know who made your coat for going out of doors, but when you think of the holy presence of God can you say 'He Himself made my coat'?

J.C.Evershed