Put On

Well it is that time of year again - the time when people dress up in silly costumes and go door to door in order to blackmail folks out of candy.  Yes, Halloween is right around the corner and in the Jacoby household we like to have fun with our costumes.  Somehow we got into this cycle where the girls get to pick our costume theme one year and then I get to choose the following year (otherwise I end up dressing as a princess ever year!).

Well it all got me to wondering about how it is that people pick their costumes.  Are they trying to say something about who they are by what they put on this one day a year?  What does it mean if they dress as a super hero or famous celebrity?  What does it mean if they dress as an object, say…. an iPhone 5?  And what does it mean if they dress as something dark and scary?  Should I be worried about being alone in a dark room with them?

If I we were honest about it, we’d have to admit that we say something about ourselves by whatever it is we choose to put on.  You know the clichés; The Clothes Make the Man, Dress for Success and the Power Suit.  Often we put on clothes that declare our allegiance to our favorite sports team, favorite beverage or even our favorite label.

And while all of this might be fine, I do wonder if we’ve ever thought about what we are trying to cover up?  I don’t mean just our bodies, but are we trying to hide from the world who we really are on the inside?  Because just imagine what it would be like if everyone could see into our hearts?  This is how Paul described it in Colossians 3

“⁸ But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. ⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all.”

If only it were that easy.  If only we could simply put off our old selfish, broken, angry, fearful ways and put on something new, something clean and perfect and whole.  If only it were as easy as taking off an old robe and putting on a new suit.  If only we could end each day by taking off all the selfish things we’ve said, thought or done and throw them in the hamper and wake up the next day to put on a new and perfect life.

Well the amazing thing is that having been baptized in the name of the Triune God we can.  We can end each day with the assurance that God has forgiven all of our wrongs of the day and we can wake up to put on a new self each and every day.  That is the rest of what Paul had to say in Colossians 3.

“¹² Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. ¹³ Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. ¹⁴ And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.”

So no matter what you choose to put on this Halloween or each day of your life, remember who you are as a baptized child of God.  You have put off the old self and put on the new self in Jesus Christ… and you look great if you ask me!