Put On

People see what you put on. And we usually put on what we want people to see. Decisions are made daily about what we put on our hair. Decisions about what we put on to cover our body (or not so much, in many cases, if you’ll notice.) We make decisions about the color, the texture, the number of layers.

People see these things we put on. Most of the time we want to them to. A peeking slip would not fall into that category, but from barrettes in the hair for ladies or ties for guys down to the selection of shoes, we expect people to see, if not notice, what we have put on.

That’s what makes the following verse stand out to me:

But put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, (Romans 13:14a KJV)

Consider for a moment that we would be putting on in order that everyone sees Christ when they look at us. How well do we wear Christ? Do we display Him as a complete package, or are there gaps? Do we allow portions of ourselves show through that clash with Him?

We are told what to put on in another reference, and we are told why:

Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. (Ephesians 6:11 KJV)

There are two completely separate reasons for these two verses.

The first is for us to put on Christ in order that we may show Him to others through our own lives. The second is to put on God’s armor to protect us. These are not incompatible verses – we need to do both.

How in the world can we witness to others about Christ’s work in our lives if we are incapable of showing Him in our lives? It is hypocritical to tell someone they need Christ when they cannot see Him in us. When we love Him, we want to introduce others to Him. We understand that without Christ, their eternal souls are in jeopardy.

It becomes very personal when it is someone we love, a family member who knows our foibles, our failures and yet we need to show them Christ. We are so imperfect that we cannot do this without His help. We have His words:

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. (John 14:6 KJV)

But – what if we’re wrong? Well, Paul said it best two thousand years ago: And if Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain. (1 Corinthians 15:14 KJV)

He repeats that – for it bears repeating: And if Christ be not raised, your faith is vain; ye are yet in your sins. (1 Corinthians 15:17 KJV)

He goes a step further a verse down: If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. (1 Corinthians 15:19 KJV)

Paul found the answer, and shared it, as we do today: But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:57 KJV)

Come, join in the victory celebration in your life.