The writers of the Bible weave a theme of purity from the beginning of time and throughout the New Testament. There is a reason God put so much emphasis on purity. In order to see God, we must be pure in heart (Matthew 5:8).
The roadblocks for being pure in heart are those things of the world—lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. They are not of the Father, but they are of the world (First John 2:16).
Adam and Eve were the first to be faced with the sin of pride. Satan’s subtility provided the perfect approach to the woman. Though she had been told not to eat from the tree of knowledge of good and evil, Satan convinced her that it was not only good for food, but it would make her as wise as God. God’s warning, “You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die” (Genesis 3:4) didn’t stand against the devil’s promise that Eve would know “good from evil.”
Eve ate the fruit, gave it to Adam, and they immediately knew they were naked. They made themselves aprons of fig leaves. They recognized that they were not appropriate for God’s presence. Before this, they were naked but unashamed. In verse 10, Adam tells God that they hid because they were naked and ashamed. After God pronounced His punishment on Satan, Adam, and Eve, verse 21 says that He (God) made them “garments of skins and clothed them.” Obviously, the fig leaves weren’t sufficient.
The sins that involve the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eye are apparent through Scripture as well. When Moses climbed Mount Sinai to receive the law, God had some instructions for him. “Go to the people and consecrate them today and tomorrow, and let them wash their garments” (Exodus 19:10). God was about to come into their presence, and He wanted them to be unstained and holy. They had to come before Him purified in body and spirit. Sadly, their fear and unbelief led them to make an idol, and their lusts overshadowed their memory of their life of slavery in Egypt. Led by their own sinful hearts, they worshiped the idol and were found partying when Moses came down from the mountain.
King David, a man after God’s own heart was confronted with nudity. He saw it, he liked it, and he acted on it. He committed adultery in his heart even before he committed the physical act. His adultery caused him to lie and even commit murder. When Nathan, the prophet, confronted him, David admitted his sin, but the enormity of his sin came with a price.
God condemns lustful intent in Matthew 5:27-28. Just looking at a woman in a lustful way is sinful. What about the woman’s part? Will we be held accountable for our dress? When we appear in clothing (or lack of clothing), and a man has lustful thoughts, who is responsible? He is, of course. The Bible says so. But can we say our hearts are pure when we wear clothing specifically designed to entice?
Paul, speaking in Second Corinthians 6, says that he had put no obstacle in anyone’s way so that no fault could be found with his ministry. Paul didn’t want to do anything that would cause someone else to stumble. We should feel like Paul. We should not want to do anything that would cause someone to stumble.
Paul exhorted Timothy to “be an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity” (First Timothy 4:12). In his second letter to the young Timothy, he says, “If anyone cleanses himself from what is dishonorable, he will be a vessel for honorable use, set apart as holy, useful to the master of the house, ready for every good work.” Then he tells Timothy to flee youthful passions. To do this, one must pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, and “those that call of the Lord from a pure heart.”
It’s that time of year when the birds are nesting, the flowers are growing, and the women take off their clothes. Nothing is left to imagination. Christian women cannot participate in immodest dress and expect to see God. Immodesty is a sin. Then there is that big question, “Just what is too short? Just what is too tight? Just what is too low cut? Just remember that the heart determines our choices. Those that are pure in heart will make good choices, and they will see God.
Sandra Oliver