Is that what you're wearing?

Zechariah 3:4
Then He answered and spoke to those who stood before Him, saying, “Take away the filthy garments from him.” And to him He said, “See, I have removed your iniquity from you, and I will clothe you with rich robes.”

When I get dressed to go to work in the morning there is a certain outfit that I have to put on. It consists of various layers of polyester, wrapped around Kevlar, overlaid with leather, and garnished with weapons. I wear this outfit because it is the uniform that I am required to wear as a State Trooper. It doesn’t matter how I feel when I wake up in the morning, whether sad or happy, angry or silly; I have to wear the uniform. Rain or shine, twelve below, or one hundred and three degrees, I must adhere to policy and wear the outfit.

I’m sure that we’ve all had to wear a uniform at some point in our lives or at least seen someone else wearing a uniform. The Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard all have uniforms. The cashier at Sheetz has a uniform and the greeter at Wal-Mart has a uniform. From McDonald’s to Gold’s Gym, uniforms define the employee.

When we put on a uniform, we become who the uniform dictates we are. For me, this means I have to put aside the fun-loving, always joking, ready to just be crazy Gary, and become a picture of the law: firm and unbending. Perhaps it’s different for you. What do you become when you put on your uniform and go to work?

Just like we have our own perceptions of ourselves in our uniforms, those who don’t wear our uniform have their own perception of us when we’re in our uniform. Sometimes this can be negative and sometimes positive. And, like those people seeing and judging us based on our uniform, we also judge (subconsciously at times) others based on their uniforms or even just their choice in clothing.

The point is this: we allow the clothes we wear and the uniforms we don to define who we are and dictate how we act. Whether good or bad, this is how it is. Well, I have some wonderful news about you and me and what we are wearing today!

When Christ died on the cross He gave us His righteousness. A lot of time we hear this referred to as His “Robe of Righteousness”. Christ even teaches a parable that illustrates this spiritual gift (Luke 15:22 The Prodigal Son). Since we are wearing His righteousness, we have every right to define ourselves accordingly. Just like when we put on that uniform and allow it to dictate who we are, we can KNOW that we ARE righteous because Christ has made us righteous (2 Corinthians 5:21). Hand in hand with this realization comes our view of others: we’re all wearing the same clothes!

It’s too easy to get out of bed and allow the world’s view, Satan’s manipulations, to creep in and sabotage your day. But the truth is, no matter what, you are righteous and you are wearing righteousness. Let your clothing define you! Allow your clothing to dictate who you are, not your circumstances or your struggles. When you sin, and you will (trust me, I’m good at this one), simply remind yourself that you are clothed in His righteousness and are therefore righteous!