How About Your Dress? by Cyrus Simmons

Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Jul 13, 1911

How About Your Dress?

By Cyrus Simmons

CYRUS SIMMONS

FASHION, always unsatisfied and unsatisfactory, changeable and arbitrary, forbids the exercise of reason, and dulls the sense of propriety. It is a golden calf made out of the jewelry and trinkets of its own devotees, set up in this wilderness of sin, and worshiped by vain idolaters in the very presence of God's violated law. How can eyes enlarged with paint (Jer. 4:30, A. R. V., margin) spiritually discern the Saviour? When fashion and show are apotheosized, our backs are turned on God. Is not the body more than meat? The One who asks this question desires to clothe his children “with the garments of salvation,” and cover them “with the robe of righteousness.” Isa. 61:10.

God is interested in our very clothing. He has extended an invitation to a royal function, and all who attend must be properly dressed. Are you called to the marriage supper of the Lamb? Then you are blessed. Rev. 19:9. “Speechless” will those be who have not on “the wedding garment.” Matt. 22: 11-14. “I counsel thee to buy of me . . . white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed.” Rev. 3:18. The order must be placed above, where the garment is “woven in the loom of heaven.” After purchasing, we must learn how to keep it. This, we are told, is done by watching. Rev. 16:15. When the Lord will return from the wedding, he will bless those servants whom he shall “find watching” (Luke 12:35-37), and who have kept their garments.

Marriage is a figurative expression of an inauguration. The wedding spoken of tells when Christ is married to the bride, the New Jerusalem. Rev. 21:9, 10. Christ is inaugurated King when the Son of man receives from the Ancient of days, the Father, “a kingdom.” Dan. 7:13, 14. This ceremony takes place in heaven. The wedding garment not only makes one a fit guest, but enables him to respond to the call, and, through faith, to attend the marriage, and to go out to meet the Bridegroom when the cry is made, “Behold, the Bridegroom cometh.” Matt. 25:6.

While the Saviour is dressing his subjects for this great event, the enemy is taking up the minds of the people with extravagant and unnecessary ornamentation of the body. An everlasting companionship with Christ is promised to those of this generation who continue to wear his robes of righteousness.

A beautiful dress is temporal; a beautiful character is eternal. The powder-puff and plastic paints may please man; but the beauty of holiness pleases God.

A new creature, or a new creation in Christ Jesus, is clothed with his glory. Strive for the inner adornments; they will shine through, “even the ornament of a meek and quiet spirit, which is in the sight of God of great price.” 1 Peter 3:4.

Knoxville, Tenn.