Eve, was created by God and she had no clothes, how is that for modesty?
The glory of our Lord was her clothing. God’s glory is what kept Eve and her husband from the stark naked reality of how indecent they were before the entire universe.
But what happened?
Sin.
Adam and Eve’s rebellion to the Lord’s command removed God’s protective glory and now they were completely exposed.
What did Eve do? What most women do today. She preoccupied her life with what she must wear.
Fig leaves were the quickest choice of the moment considering she had no wardrobe of her own. She was smart and resourceful and sewed them together (see Genesis 3:7). She thought by doing so her shame would be covered but to no avail. God who created her knew her detailed form. Her head, the curves of her breast and hips to her slender feet were His divine design. A design that stood bare regardless of how many fig leaves she sewed together.
Eve’s Modesty
I’m not sure why we picture Eve had one measly leaf to cover pertinent body parts. No, my friend, I believe this woman wanted to make sure she was arrayed modestly before a thrice holy God. Not to mention she could also hide the imperfections she was beginning to noticed she didn’t want Adam to see.
God came along and did not approve of her man-made covering. Then God took it upon himself to slay an innocent animal to cover Eve and her husband with coats of skin. God did not kill an innocent animal to teach her her how to dress modestly. God was showing Adam and Eve the awful ugly truth…without the shedding of blood is no remission of sins.
Today’s modern conservative Christian woman has a tendency to believe that outward clothing gives her credibility as a modest godly women.
I ask, what is the difference between such a philosophy and Eve sewing fig leaves?
Today’s Christian Woman
The modern “Eve” can array her outward body modestly in various colors and styles. She has the incredible ability
and tools to create masterpieces of modest apparel.
She pats herself on the back over her modest clothing and deems it “godly.” But I wonder, by whose standards?
The clothing of the modern “Eve” may be deemed modest today but a hundred years ago it may have been another story. Many women then wore dresses that fully covered their arms and ankles. Yet even such dresses exposed her unique figure. So was her clothing really modest 100 years ago?
From my perspective I see Eve’s attempts of modesty, regardless what era or culture as subjective. So how can you know true biblical modesty?
Well, it is NOT in what you wear or adorn yourself as clearly stated in scripture:
“Whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or of putting on of apparel; But let it be the hidden man of the heart, in that which is not corruptible, even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:3-4
Let’s not get hung up on the gold, another issue where some think godliness is not wearing jewelry. Then by that same logic not “putting on of apparel” would also be deemed godly. Talk about being totally immodest. Back to the real issue of what 1 Peter 3:3-4 is referring.
As a woman you are being exhorted NOT to preoccupy yourself with the OUTWARD but rather the hidden man of the heart.
Clothed Modestly with God’s Glorious Apparel
Who is the hidden man of the heart? It is none other than our Lord Jesus Christ. The new creature that indwells you by the power of the Holy Spirit and the will of your Heavenly Father. God’s preoccupation with the modesty for you as a Christian woman is with the apparel of the hidden man being manifested in you.
The woman of modesty is confident not in the clothes she wears but in the God she bears.
The clothes you wear outside of your body do not define you as a modest woman, otherwise God would be guilty of allowing immodesty to begin with by creating a naked woman. Nor are your physical clothes a way to keep you apart from a world that by nature lust, regardless if your clothes are modest or not.
Rather your outward apparel gives us a small glimpse of the incredible majesty of a thrice holy God that indwells you. Because the focus is on HIM and not your physical beauty.
For you are beautiful, my friend. And your beauty is to be reserved for His divine plan and testimony in another precious area of your life. Therefore He desires His glory within you to be your clothing of modesty that shines out of you.
Evaluate Your Wardrobe
If your wardrobe were to be gone tomorrow are you still confident enough to stand unashamed? Is God himself your glorious clothing?
Are you trying to prove to yourself and others how godly you are by the outward clothes you wear? Could it be a coverup for the insecurities you battle because you really don’t know God or the purpose He intends for you?
“Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: but a woman that feareth the LORD, she shall be praised.” Proverbs 31:30
Allow God to reveal the hidden man of the heart in you that you be unashamed because your clothing is Christ himself.
To GOD be ALL the GLORY
In His hands,
Ann Marie Moore
This is so very good!! You brought out points I’ve never thought of!
Praise the Lord!
Jill,
There is so much I’m still trying to grasp myself. I think as women we work hard at being an outward testimony yet we forget about our absolute need for God to allow HIM to be our testimony.
Oh and I didn’t get to touch on the awesome privilege we have as a modern Christian woman. God’s presence was with Eve in the garden but the moment she sinned, she and Adam were removed from God’s presence. We, who were not only born from sin, but sinned ourselves with far greater sins than eating forbidden fruit are granted God’s life in us. His Spirit lives in us the moment we receive the atoning forgiveness of our Lord Jesus Christ’s blood.
“Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.” Psalm 139:6
Hi
I really appreciate your depth of thought on walking with our lord. And how well you are able to write your thoughts in
order to share your wisdom.
The riches are in the depths. But it’s so easy to be waylayed and travel on with superficial knowledge that is meant by the enemy to be an inconspicuous wall between my spirit and the spirit of Christ.
It took a very long time for me to find the deep end and letting go of all that pulls me away from Jesus. And what pulls me away is sometimes what others think should pull me in?
Thank You for your reflections
Mike Mahaffey
Mike,
I appreciate your thoughts, thank you. It’s true that what others think should pull you closer to God, actually pulls you away. For me others superficial thinking has been a wall of outward expectations that kept me from the inward realization…Jesus is the door for both salvation and living the Christian life.
It’s time to allow myself to walk through the door. I’m not going to say it’s easy because God challenges the very core of our thinking. But it’s far more fulfilling than seeking to meet man-made expectation and traditions which are based as you pointed out on superficial knowledge rather than taking into consideration God’s heart on the matter.
When our basis is the Spirit that indwells us then our focus is an immense desire to see God work in and through us. And yeah, He can pick what He wills us to wear externally that day to accomplish His will in glorifying the Lord.
“I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore.” Psalm 86:12
Hi! While I do not totally agree with some of your theology, I think you have a very good point and it is beautifully written! I found the content thought provoking as well, which I really appreciate! Thank you so much for sharing your insight!
Erika,
Thank you for your honesty and though, as you say, we may not agree in theology, I don’t mind the challenge. Because it is not what I think or what you think but rather God’s holy intended perspective as revealed in His word to each believer according the the measure of their faith.
Praise the Lord that it was thought provoking. I do desire that God’s people think, to include myself. To ask God what He thinks rather than what we think God thinks. This requires a Holy God to permeate our lives by His Spirit.
Thank you for your grace and encouragement, Erika.
TO GOD be ALL the GLORY
“But he that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. For not he that commendeth himself is approved, but whom the Lord commendeth.” 2 Corinthians 10:17-18
Awesome and interesting perspective. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Thank you, Anna, and thanks so much for visiting 🙂