Costumes

Halloween

This time of year most kids and many adults are deciding what they are going to be for Halloween. Of course, no one is actually going to become something other than what they already are. In fact, what they are going to do is dress up and pretend to be someone or something else. This is a natural part of normal child development. All children pretend to be something they are not in the regular types of play. This is actually how we learn many things about how we should behave. A boy tries to mimic his dad and in the process learns to actually be a man. But, in between, he is acting like something that he is not. 

It is a little more strange with adults though. This phenomenon of adults wanting to dress up can probably fit into a couple of different categories. First, is simply the desire to have some fun. Just a harmless gathering of friends fellowshiping and laughing about who came up with the best or worst ideas. But for others this is not so simple or innocent. This game of pretending for many is a real way of escaping life even if only for a night. This attitude reveals a couple of crucial problems. One of these problems is that these individuals are struggling with a deep sense of unfulfillment. The other issue that comes to mind is that the person may be masking some deep pain or trauma. In either of these situations the cover up cannot and will not bring genuine hope and healing.

Cover ups

In the case of the person who is seeking an escape, the problem lies in what they are trying to escape from. These people are dealing with problems or stress or conflicts that make their regular life unbearable. However, when they take off the costume the problems are still there. These dilemmas cannot be solved by simply covering them up, but rather must be met with real solutions. The problem with escaping to fantasies is that the real world problems don’t get solved and usually only grow more destructive, depressing and even deadly.

For those who are seeking to cover up some deep pain or trauma it is important to realize that the only real hope is found in a proper diagnosis which can lead to the right cure. If the pain is a result of one's own sin and consequences then the only way forward is not to hide away but rather to confess the sin in genuine repentance. But for the person who has been victimized by the sin of someone else the greatest antiseptic is the light of the gospel. Where that sin can be dealt with in both justice and grace and true healing can come from the Holy Spirit.

Coverings

The point that I am making is not that sin doesn't need to be covered, but rather that coverings are insufficient. When Adam and his chatty bride found themselves naked in the garden they tried to fashion their own covers to vale the wickedness of their sin against God. The problem is that their puny leafy patterns only made the surety of their sin more obvious when confronted by the Lord. The sown leaves could not hide the guilt and shame of their disobedience to the One who made them and loved them (Genesis 3:8-11).
But when God showed up, while a curse was necessary, He also extended to them great grace. He made coverings for them that could temporarily and symbolically cover their shame and guilt until the suitable robe would be ready. God made for them coverings of skin by killing animals. Death was the penalty their sin had incurred.(Genesis 3:21) But the skinswere not enough to fully finally cover and remove the stain of sin. Instead depraved humanity needed a greater dress. 

Therefore we need to be clothed in the righteousness of Christ. However, the garments of Christ’s righteousness are not just some pretend costume that we put on to appear righteous but rather these clothes remove the stain of sin so that we become the righteousness of God in Jesus Christ (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). But the only way for us to put on these good garments is by repentance and faith in Jesus, whereby we trust in Him to cleanse us and save us based on His amazing grace and perfect account.

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