12 It
has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and
worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled),
upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world,
13 Awaiting and
looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the
glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the
Anointed One),
14 Who
gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from
all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people
who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and
filled with] beneficial deeds.”
Dear people of God, while I was a child growing up, it was easy
to identify a Christian woman from a prostitute by their appearance.
The prostitute was known for skimpy, provocative dressing and
heavy make-up to attract her ungodly clientele. She was also known for unruly
behaviour and fighting in public. The Church was the last place she was found
because she could not have the audacity to visit the Church in such attire and
nobody would have accepted such indecent dressing in Church.
It was only when she repented to become a born-again Christian
that her conduct changed for better and she adorned decent clothing, a sign to
everyone that she was now a new creation of God.
As a youngster, it was also easy to identify a young Christian
man from a gangster by their appearance.
The gangster was known for his heavy chains, bangles, rings and
pendants, singlet in public, funny hairstyles, dark glasses, etc.
The gangster never bothered about Church attendance because it
was at variance with his ideas concerning life as a “hard man” since he
believed only women and weak men attended church gatherings.
Unfortunately, all that has changed now in today’s society with
people in Church dressing like prostitutes and gangsters in a bid to be modern
with their fashion style.
It is not that God has changed His standard for Christians
because God remains the same forever – Malachi 3:6a; Hebrews 13:8.
What has happened is that the Church has accepted worldliness
into their gathering in a bid to boost membership and under the false claim
that we are all living under grace and then use that as a licence for
ungodliness.
Thank God, His definition of grace is today’s lead Holy Bible
text.
God’s definition of grace for His children in His Word in the
Holy Bible is at variance with what we see and hear today but it does not mean
God would ever change His definition to suit what ignorant Christians have
done.
It does not mean God would ever reduce His standard of decency
and morality because the Church has reduced the standard to accept worldliness
into its fold.
If anything, anybody who dresses immorally, indecently,
provocatively in the name of fashion whilst professing to be God’s child and
appearing in Church in the same indecent garb does not have the Spirit of God
operating in him or her.
Any church leader, pastor, priest, overseer, that condones
immoral, indecent, provocative dressing because of church membership whilst
claiming we are living under grace is leading his members to hell and he would
also land in hell unless he repents genuinely and warns his members of God’s
unchanging standard of holiness and righteousness.
A Holy God cannot be a Father of an unholy person indecently
clad because God’s Spirit must agree with the person’s spirit.
Dear friend, if you are someone whose lifestyle is steeped in
worldliness because your flesh controls you more than God’s Spirit within you,
repent today and return to God’s standard before it is too late.
Stop dressing as a prostitute or as a gangster because God does
not accept it. If you take time to study God’s Word daily, you would discover
that God is a loving Father but He is also a no-nonsense disciplinarian Who is
no respecter of persons.
This latter part of God is what many today take for granted
because of God’s mercy and opportunities given to everyone to amend their ways
to conform to His standard; unfortunately, they discover too late when God’s
justice side is executed against them.
Jesus’ coming for His children in the
Rapture is imminent. Are you His child or are you born again? Are you ready for
Him?
Come to Jesus Christ the Word of God
today and now, for tomorrow or later may be too late for you.
May the good Lord bless you as you
heed His Word today, act on it and share with others in Jesus’ Most Holy Name,
Amen.
Gabriel Ama.