My husband and I recently attended a fundraising gala in Atlanta. As we entered the ballroom and checked in at the front, the attendant welcomed us and wished us a joyful evening. As hundreds of men, dashing in their tuxedos, and women stunning in their beautiful ball gowns and fine jewelry stood around making that small talk that most of us don’t care to make, I couldn’t help but think…

In this world, we can clean ourselves up, put on our “very best” clothes and jewelry, be on our best behavior, say the right things and possibly impress others, but our Heavenly Father is not impressed by our earthly clothes or our “best behavior.” We are all laid bare before Him (1 Samuel 16:7).

God, with His supernatural, X-ray vision, if you will, sees the heart and soul of every person and the only garment that impresses Him is the “robe of righteousness” given to every child of God at the time of their salvation. That robe is the most expensive garment of all time because Jesus gave His life to be able to give it to us.

When God looks at our souls, He either sees the red robe of righteousness representing the shed blood of His Son covering us, or He sees the black cloak of sin. The most expensive tuxedos, evening gowns and jewels mean nothing to Him. They are like “filthy rags” before a holy and righteous God (Isaiah 64:6).

The Apostle Paul wrote in the book of Romans that we have all sinned and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

Until we accept the atoning work of Jesus on the cross as payment for our sin, our soul is clothed with the black cloak of sin and scripture says…

“The wages of sin is death but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23).

We read in the book of John – “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whosoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life” (John 3:16).

When our spiritual eyes are opened and we believe upon and accept the “gift” of eternal life in Christ Jesus, God, in essence, exchanges that black cloak of sin for that priceless, soul-redeeming, life-giving, red robe of righteousness.

The prophet Isaiah put it this way – “I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels” (Isaiah 61:10).

Friend, I hope that you enjoy occasionally putting on your very best clothes and jewels and attending a gala or some other fine event, and that you thank God for allowing you the privilege of experiencing such pleasures here on earth.

But more than that, when you take your last breath here on earth and stand before God Almighty, seeking to enter the most spectacular Gala and celebration we could ever imagine, I pray that your soul is dressed for heaven in that priceless, eternal red robe of righteousness and that you hear the most glorious words you or I will ever hear – “Well done good and faithful servant…enter into the joy of the Lord” (Matthew 25:23).

Lisa Hannan is a resident of Valdosta.