Putting On the Suit
By Laura Bagby

How many times have you gone into a store or school or business and asked some individual for help only to hear the standard answer, "I think you have mistaken me. I don't work here"?
I have done it countless times and wondered what made me think that person was a cashier or stock person or supervisor or journalist or secretary or teacher.

On the flip side, I too have been the object of mistaken identity. Several years ago, while working as a cashier in a gift store at a national park, I would often be mistaken for a ranger. Why the confusion? Well, I guess that with my natural carefree appearance and my green and tan uniform I looked the part. I appeared to be something I was not. Assumptions were made; a conclusion was reached--only I wasn't the real thing.

How true this can be on the spiritual level. Appearances can fool us. We see someone who looks like a decent, upstanding, law-abiding citizen only to find that they were dressed as wolves in sheep's clothing (Mathew 7:15) and just the opposite of what we thought.

As Christians, let us never be accused of causing confusion, especially the kind that causes others to fall away from the path of life, from the life submitted to Jesus Christ. We cause others to stray by presenting to the world an undistinguishable picture of worldliness. Arrayed in clothes of anger, bitterness, gossip, mediocrity, immodesty, pride, and every other kind of evil, we project an image that is less like Jesus and more like the unbelievers we say we are trying to save. God calls us to be in the world, but not of the world. God calls us to be easily distinguishable from the world, not to be buddy-buddy.

Just as certain career professionals like your local policeman or fireman or judge have easily recognizable attire that makes them distinctive, so we as Christians also have a standard uniform that sets us apart--only the uniform is physically invisible and goes deeper than skin, even as far as clothing our own hearts.

Isaiah 61:10 describes what our appearance should be once we are in Christ Jesus: "For he has clothed me with garments of salvation and arrayed me in a robe of righteousness." In Colossians, Paul gets even more specific about how we should dress ourselves as Christians: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience" (3:12). This is what should be visible in our smile, our step, our attitude, though our godly attire can not be seen by the naked eye.

And as we live and move in the fruits of the Holy Spirit -- in gentleness, peace, love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, and self-control -- the light of God's love will so shine, that we won't need a Christian T-shirt or a Christian bumper sticker to proclaim whose side we are on -- it will be known to all without a doubt.

Suited up, we are just about ready to take our professional role as ambassadors for Christ (2Corinthians 5:20). There is just one more layer to our uniform of righteousness. When it comes to dealing with forces of evil, this outer layer is absolutely essential.

Through prayer, we also gain access to demon-resistant clothing. We call it the armor of God, that action hero suit that is spiritually fireproof from the flaming accusations of the enemy. With our helmet of salvation, breastplate of righteousness, sword of the Word of God, belt of truth, shield of faith, and shoes of the gospel of peace (Ephesians 6: 13-17), we have a spiritual seal of protection and a badge of authority to fight effectively.

In a split-second our ownership is set for eternity. With the full armor of God in place, the evil forces shrink back in terror because what they see is not flesh and blood; no, my friend, they see the words "God's Child: Bought by the blood of Jesus Christ and forever sealed by the Holy Spirit." In the realm of eternity, there is no chance for a mistaken identity.

What about you? Do others see Christ in you, or do they see a worldly soul? Oh my brothers and sisters, let us never be lukewarm.

As we pray and are changed by the power of God's Word and the Holy Spirit, let's make sure to suit up before the big game. Let's make known our team spirit as we display the colors of Christ for all to see.

Go Team!

cbn