I often see pictures depicting Adam and his wife before the fall. Artists draw two naked people who, without embarrassment, live a happy life. The Bible says that they were naked and were not ashamed. But it's worth clarifying that they had a special nakedness, covered with the garment of God's righteousness in the form of a soft light enveloping the whole body. This is written in the book "Patriarchs and Prophets". "The sinless pair wore no artificial garments; they were clothed with a covering of light and glory, such as the angels wear. So long as they lived in obedience to God, this robe of light continued to enshroud them." – {PP 45.3} After such a description of the first people, it becomes more understandable why they saw their nakedness when they sinned. God did not create blind people. But they were sinless and blind to sin, and the garment of Divine light was the seal of their righteousness.
We have something similar in the spiritual world. The angels that surround us see this special garment, called "the righteousness of Christ", and guard us very carefully. I cannot accurately describe what they actually see in the invisible world, but I think that we all who believe in Jesus are very different from the people of this world. And this difference is given by Christ in images that we understand, having an analogue in the visible world.
The Faithful Witness tells me that I am naked. And then He states that this nakedness is a shame that can only be covered with a special white garment bought in the Laodicean store. We understand that this is not about a white robe, but about the garments of light that Adam and his wife had while they were pure. But because of our sin, our eyes do not see our garment of imputed righteousness, but the eyes of our faith give us some idea that this is so.
Nakedness is a body not covered with clothing. The demonstration of bodily nakedness is called shame and disgrace in the Bible. The Lord can truly say about many of us that we are literally naked when the summer vacation time begins or hot weather comes. If I tied my body with a string or a thread with a rag, considering it beach clothes, or put on something that openly demonstrates intimate parts of the body, then in the light of the Bible, all this looks like shame and nakedness, the demonstration of which is condemned by God.
I cannot make a person's clothing a criterion for their acceptance or rejection, but the Lord personally gave me the light of dress reform so that I could distinguish the holy from the worldly. But no matter how naked and bare I am in this world, all this is very easily and quickly corrected when I realize that I am naked. I immediately dress and become very decent. But although God cares about my appearance, He also expects my inner transformation, spiritual holiness. And here I can no longer put on something myself to cover my shame.
Calling me naked, the Faithful Witness speaks the truth. And for some reason, I think that this is not about me, and I begin to list all my spiritual deeds and advantages. I pray, read, do, reflect, spread, participate, give, and do other good deeds. This is definitely not about me, and I calmly reflect on who can be naked in such a direct testimony? Of course, it's my neighbor on the church chair. He's so strange, doesn't communicate with anyone, doesn't participate in anything, doesn't testify about anything. I think it's definitely about him. It's good that I'm not like that. Unfortunately, I'm describing what I experienced for a very long time, until I suddenly realized that I am the lukewarm person in Jesus' eyes. But I realized this only when I entered the Laodicean store and began to examine the Heavenly goods, trying on what is offered there.
My nakedness, which the True Witness declares, is determined not by my understanding and comparison of myself with Biblical criteria, but by my putting on the white garment He offers. The conclusion is simple. If I bought and put on Christ's white garment, then I am clothed and righteous; if I did not make this purchase, then I am naked. You can consider this differently, citing some passages from Scripture, but it is necessary to take into account that we live in the very last time, and the highest requirements of the last days have come into force. In connection with this, we are given more light. The absence of oil in the lamps of the foolish virgins was not an urgent problem for a very long time, and many of them passed away without waiting for the Bridegroom. But during the loud cry and the approach of the wedding procession, the presence of oil played a decisive role.
God's seal, which will be placed on the foreheads of a special group of people, was not placed until this time of sealing, but when all the deadlines ended, and the Lord decided to finally separate the tares from the wheat, my sealing already determines my Eternal fate.
To be naked is to reject all the advice and suggestions of Jesus about cardinal changes in my life. My nakedness or clothing is determined by accepting the advice from Rev. 3:18. The Lord cares not only about my knowledge and agreement but also that I enter into eternal trade relations with Him and buy everything He offers. And buy everything at once.
To be naked is to choose your own path of salvation and sew your own clothes, using the biblical fabric offered for previous generations.
What was conditional and fulfilled in Christ's life will not be my justification if I decide to observe it. For example, if I build an altar and bring a lamb on it as a burnt offering to the Lord, how will this be accepted by Heaven? We understand that this no longer works.
When the Heavenly High Priest comes out of the Heavenly Sanctuary, then it will cease to be important what I will do in the courtyard of the Temple, but it will be important in what garment I will appear before Him.
Love and Heavenly wisdom, together with the garment of light of righteousness by faith, make me clothed, sighted, and very rich. I cannot choose or remove something from this.
Imagine a warrior who went out to battle with the enemy naked or without weapons and took a karate pose against an armed opponent. It's hard to imagine a greater amusement and entertainment for the enemy. No matter how strong and great this naked person may be in his own eyes, he will never become a winner. No one will give in to him, but for entertainment, they can play with him, gradually making him disabled.
And the Lord will make winners of those who respond to His advice and will be zealous buyers.
My righteousness in the eyes of Heaven is like filthy rags. This is even worse than nakedness. Isa. 64:6. When God enters into a close relationship with me, then He expects fruit in my life. And when conception occurs, no impurity will stain my garment. And my fruit will be holiness, and the end, eternal life. Rom. 6:22.
The question of my spiritual garment is very important. And the best attire is to put on Jesus (Rom. 13:14), the whole armor of God (Eph. 6:11), and His love, which is the bond of perfectness. (Col. 3:12-14).
To have the character of Christ is the most beautiful garment in the eyes of Heaven. And this garment is established on me as a result of constant trade relations with the Heavenly Merchant. I get so used to such relationships that without them I feel and see myself naked. I put on love.
Questions for reflection on this chapter
1. Please read Ex. 20:26; Isa. 3:16-17; 47:2-3; 57:8; 61:3; 64:6; Zech. 3:3-4; Rev. 3:17-18; 16:15; 19:8; 2 Cor. 5:21; Rom. 4:5; 8:35; 13:14; Eph. 6:11; Col. 3:12-14; Ps. 45:13; Jer. 13:26; Ezek. 16:36-37; 23:29; Lev. 10:6; 20:17; Gen. 9:20-23; Micah 1:11 in light of this chapter.
2. What did you understand from this chapter?
3. Are you a clothed person?
4. Why does the Lord call me naked? Couldn't a softer expression have been used?
5. What do you understand by your nakedness in Jesus' eyes?
6. What does the Lord experience when He evaluates my condition?
7. Is it important in the last time to be dressed in the right clothes?
8. Is there a difference in what I wear in everyday life?
9. What is the "white garment" from Rev. 3:18? How to acquire it, and how does it look in your understanding?
10. Why does the Lord warn us not to be found naked? Rev. 16:15.
11. Is it possible to buy only white clothes from Christ and not notice other goods? Is this possible?
12. Does the oil for the lamp have anything to do with my nakedness?
13. Do our lessons help you acquire a worthy wardrobe?
14. If someone deliberately undresses me and exposes me in this form for public viewing, will this be considered my sin?
15. Have you ever thought about why Christ took nakedness to the cross? What might this symbolize?