Heaven's 'Dress Code'

Strange how entrance requirements for Heaven or Paradise fluctuate, depending upon whom you ask. After a documentary on Gadaffi, depraved and brutal ruler of Libya an Iman was asked a pointed question. Did he expect Gadaffi to go to Paradise? “Yes” said the Iman. A Roman Catholic Archbishop had a T.V.  'Q and A' programme with Atheists. In a concluding and confused statement he said he expected to see them in heaven. Add to that, most of the community, regardless of lifestyle, religious faith or lack of it, consider Heaven (if there is one) their destiny.

Surely, if there is a place called Heaven, there must be some standard for entrance. For such a place means that Its Creator owns and dwells there. How can any of us know what He is like and what His dress requirements are for entrance? Sounds discriminatory, the word our World is trying to eradicate. Too bad! He does have the last word after all in life’s matters. The question each of us needs to answer is ‘Where can I find the required information for acceptance in Heaven?’ Most people would say that is the realm of religion. True! However, which Faith system has the best credentials?

I’ve bet my life on the credentials of the Bible and its revelation of the Person who is Heaven’s Lord. We know Him as Jesus Christ. Heaven’s inhabitants revere Him as Yahweh, Son of God, the Logos. When you read about Him and His dwelling place it becomes crystal clear entrance requires an impossible dress code for we earth inhabitants. We are told that ‘without holiness’ it is impossible to see the Lord, (Hebrews 12:14) let alone get past whoever is on the ‘gate’. In our most impressive moments of self-evaluation holy would not be a term we would apply to ourselves. For the word embraces concepts, behaviour and character traits which strip all our pretence of measuring up to Heaven’s dress code.

Holiness speaks of purity in mind, thought, action and relationships. Holiness is being unblemished in our worship of the Eternal God. Holiness reveals that a person is partaker of the sacred, thereby separated from the defilement of our Sin nature and its multitude of expressions. Holiness says to us “Unless there is a miracle you will never be fitted out for Heaven’s dress requirement.” Why? Simply because holiness isn’t a deodorant to splash on or a perfume to cover our body odour or soul's cesspool. Holiness can never be manufactured by so called ‘good works’ (they have our foul fingerprints all over them). Well intentioned promises are easily forgotten and religious ritual is an empty exercise separated from personal holiness and faith.

It begins to look as though Heaven will be an empty place, apart from the angels. It would have been without the transforming grace of God expressed in the Judeo-Christian Bible. In symbol, statement and ultimately in the Person of Jesus Christ Heaven’s dress requirement became an earthly gift. This is the message of Scripture. It is the basic theme of Christmas. It is the ultimate achievement, for us, of Calvary. It is the most wonderful gift ever offered to corrupt, wayward, ignorant, indifferent and spiritually dead people. For Christ’s life on earth stood the test under intense and sustained opposition and temptation to make Him similar to us, that is, unholy. How do we know? From the historical records and the Biblical accounts, Jesus Christ died to sin, buried it and on the third day rose again. Now He has not only prepared a place in heaven for believers, He has provided the garment which meets the code. What is that garment? It isn’t a spiritual feeling or a religious observance. It is none other than the very life of Christ indwelling us and in the eyes of the Father, covering us eternally.

How can we earn this ‘garment?’ We cannot! How then is it available? It is the gift of God to us. Ephesians 2:1-10. How do we claim it? By realising our un–holiness and its consequences. Then seeking for the cleansing, forgiveness and transforming grace of God offered to us as a faith and gratitude response. 2 Corinthians 5:11–21

I can never be good enough for heaven in my own dress code. This I know, however, I’ve been given Christ Jesus' promise of meeting Him face to Face one day. How? Because of His grace and gift to me. This is also available to anyone, to you, by a faith response, regardless of how weak you may think your faith to be. Jesus will honour your heart’s call and cleanse, forgive and transform you from the inside out and clothe you in His righteousness, which is the holy dress code of Heaven.

 ©Ray Hawkins

Questions God Asks. #1.

God’s First Recorded Question

We can be so busy asking questions of God and about God that we fail to hear the questions He is asking us. The very first question is found in Genesis 3:9: The Lord called to the man (Adam), and said to him, “Where are you?”

 

Why would the Almighty do that? Does God have poor vision? Is it possible for any of us to hide from Him? Surely the Lord God knew where  Adam was and what had happened, so why the question?

As you read the account it becomes apparent the searching out by God and the seeking question was for Adam’s sake. Here was his chance to come clean, take responsibility and own up to what he had done. Instead of that Adam tries to explain his and Eve’s situation by blaming her. Then she blames the Serpent.

Humans are a funny bunch. As Adam and Eve tried hiding their nakedness with fig leaves, we do the same with the spiritual/moral equivalents. Trouble arises when we hear within our heart and mind the searching, questioning voice of God. We experience dread. The very first time we read of fear is in this account. What we sew together by our own efforts will never stop the penetrating gaze of the Lord. Isaiah 64:6 reveals how we really see ourselves when God calls out and our ‘leaves’ unravel. ‘We have all become like one unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth. We all fade like a leaf and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.’

Within Society are those who seek to promote nakedness as a life style. The problem is the so called body beautiful falls apart with wear, tear and age. It needs covering for appearance sake, for comfort sake and for self respect. That which is true physically applies to the spiritual. Our opinions of our goodness when honestly assessed sag, slip and shame us. How can we stand before the questioning God in our self righteous garment of leaves or be bold in our nakedness?

“Adam, where are you” is God’s way of calling you (as the Adam of Genesis) to be truthful about your rebellion. It is also a plea to accept your inadequate protection from the mire of ungodly actions and attitudes you have fallen into. In the Genesis account you will notice that the Lord God provided a covering for the man and woman. In a similar though spiritual manner He has provided covering for you and anyone who is prepared to step out of their ‘leaves’ and cover their nakedness.

There is much to be said about how God did this. Simply put it involved Jesus Christ, the cross and the resurrection. Now the Lord offers you, me, anyone a good spiritual and moral cleansing and new garments acceptable through all eternity. This is Heaven’s designer label. It bears the brand ‘Christ Jesus, Lord and Saviour.’ Galatians 3:26-27 invites you into Heaven’s fitting room to be properly dressed for ever and a day. ‘In Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourself with Christ.

 

How do you know when the Lord is asking you that question? If you are feeling a little uneasy about your standing in His presence at this moment, then He is calling you. Reveal yourself to Him. Claim His mercy and ask to be clothed eternally in Christ Jesus’ righteousness. You will never need feel naked again or hide behind the leaves of fading self effort.

(Ray (eternally dressed in Christ Jesus) Hawkins