What Are You Wearing!?

What’s your favorite part of an ugly Christmas sweater? The silly sayings? The flashing lights? The crazy decorations? Some sweaters have it all! We proudly wear these Christmas sweaters for all to see, bringing laughter and holiday cheer. But there is something else we all wear every day of the year that is far uglier than any Christmas sweater. Though often invisible to us, God sees the ugliness of sin that stains every human soul. The Ugly Truth The Bible says “we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags” (Isaiah 64:6). We’re all born with a nature to sin, and as a result our outward actions (even the best ones) reflect an inner ugliness. “All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). No matter what good things we try to put on, the stain of our sin is still there. None of us are good enough to meet the “dress code” of perfect holiness which is required to enter eternal life with God. But because He loves us, God has offered the solution. The Great Exchange During Christmas, we celebrate that Jesus Christ, who is fully God, traded the glory of Heaven to take on the limitations of being human. Born into the world through the virgin Mary, He was wrapped in swaddling cloths and was laid in a humble manger. The Bible says of Jesus: “being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross” (Philippians 2:8). When Jesus died, He bore our sin and its punishment. The Bible says He “who knew no sin” took upon Himself the stain of our sin, “that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him” (2 Corinthians 5:21). Jesus rose from the grave three days later. He left His linen burial cloths behind to show that He had conquered sin and death. When you trust in Jesus to forgive your sin, He gives you a new spiritual wardrobe: “garments of salvation” and a “robe of righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10). He makes you a “new creature,” giving you a new spiritual identity so you will be prepared for eternity in Heaven with Him (2 Corinthians 5:17). What Are You Wearing? Maybe you’ll be wearing your ugly Christmas sweater proudly this season. But maybe you’re also still wrapped up in the sin that keeps you from experiencing the joy and peace that only God can give. God’s word urges us to “put off … the old man” and “put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness” (Ephesians 4:22-24). This means turning from a life ruled by sin to a life surrendered to Jesus Christ, who will give you a new nature—and His Spirit—so that you can become the kind of person He made you to be. He offers a complete transformation. “Whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord [Jesus] shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).