Gleanings (12/14/11) – A New Coat
Zechariah 3:1-10
“Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with rich apparel.”
This was true for Joshua the high priest in his day. It became true for mankind hundreds of years later. God removes our iniquity. God clothes us in rich apparel.
What does God see when he looks upon us? Apart from His intervention, it is not a pretty picture. First He immediately looks beyond what we are wearing outwardly. Dressing up may make us feel better but to Him it is no more than putting lipstick on a pig. Why? Because He sees within. He sees the heart. He notes the lack of mercy and compassion. He probably winces at our smug self-righteousness. He sees our inclination to self-interest and making everything about me, me, me.
But He removes that from us. And He wraps something around us that shields His eye from who we really are. Not even Superman can see through it. What is this rich apparel, the wonderful garment? The righteousness of Jesus. It covers us like a London Fog or cashmere overcoat. And the Father sees that instead of our heart, the overflow of which defiles a man. So what He sees is now pleasing to His eyes.
Christmas is upon us. So when we ponder the gifts, let us not overlook the new coat.