This pandemic has certainly affected the way that I dress. With the exception of church services on Sunday, I wear sweatpants almost every day because I have nowhere to go and no one to see (at least, in person). However, on those rare occasions where I actually get to visit with someone, I may throw on a pair of blue jeans.

Usually, when we are going to meet someone important, we try to dress presentably out of respect for ourselves and for the other person. If you were going to meet with Donald Trump or Joe Biden, you probably would not be wearing your old, chili-stained Pete Rose or Joey Votto jersey. You would likely wear a button-up and tie or a dress. In a similar way we ought to present ourselves before God in a worthy manner.

In the prophetic book of Zechariah, he sees a vision of Joshua the High Priest standing in judgement before Satan and the Angel of the Lord. He is dressed in his priestly garb, but Satan accuses him of wearing defiled, stained clothing, which was against the regulation for priests. Satan, the Accuser, is rightly condemning Joshua in this instance. This presents a real problem for the Israelites. If Joshua cannot approach God because he is defiled, then on the Day of Atonement, Israel will still remain in their sins! Thankfully, the story does not end there. The Angel of the Lord rebuke’s Satan and then gives Joshua new clothes so that he can go before God blamelessly.

This vision was a shadow of the blessings to come. While on our own, our righteousness before God is but filthy rags (Isa 64:6). On our own, we have no chance. On our own, we will be condemned. But thanks be to God for our Lord Jesus Christ, “who is able to keep you from stumbling and present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy” (Jude 24; ESV). With Him, our righteousness is pure and beautiful. With him, we have abundance. With him, we have salvation.