NAKED.
By G.W.S.Ware.
Winder,Georgia,
July 3,1938.
- - - - - -
Naked means: Unclothed; defenseless; exposed to view.
The word picture of naked, is not pleasant to look at. It is not use much in polite
society, and then only when necessary. We find that wisdom will use the right word in
writing, whether it is pleasant or not. In the Book of Wisdom, it comes up before us, over
thirty times.
We will write about several kinds of being naked.
In one sense, a person’s words is what is used to cover the naked mind. Words used
by any one, is the only way, with actions, his fellows can see his mind. God can see the
mind, before words are spoken, on action done. The Lord Jesus Christ, Is the only human
being to pass through this world, where mind itsself, had perfect mental clotheing before
God and men, angels, and demons. Satan, through men, tried to make the mind of Christ
naked before men, and when they failed, the death of his body, was their next object.
To be naked or nude before others in this world, is so shameful and wicked, that God,
himself, made clothes for the first human beings who had made themselves naked (Gen.
3:21). In this our day on earth, and to all coming human beings, God commands, if they
have two thing to be content; and clothes is one of them (1 Tim. 6:8). Paul, counted it an
affliction, to be without clothes (2 Cor. 11:27).
Man’s spirit needs clothes more than his body or mind, though essential as these
are for his comfort and ease, and to associate with those, he delights to live with.
Spiritual clothing is unlike the other two kind, which he can get by the power of his body
and mind, but these cannot get spiritual clothes for his spirit; for it is the life of
Jesus Christ, that he lived on earth for it; which cannot be worked for, or bought with
anything man can get. Nothing can clothe a human spirit, for it is dead and naked in the
presence of God, not fit for earth or heaven, hell is the only place clothes can be had,
which is fire (Mark 9:49). Such clothing to hide the naked spirit, is so terific, Satan
has the majority of mankind (Matt. 7:13,14), not to believe it, until they are clothe with
it (Lu. 16:24). "Tormented (clothed) in this flame," what awful clothing to wear
forever, then not hide the hideous nakedness of his person. The human spirit has such a
nature when born (Ps. 51:5), the first sin committed by it, takes its life from God, then
it is dead, and has no sense of shame for being naked in the presence of God, no more than
a naked dead human body can be ashame in the presence of living men and women. This is one
explanation why Satan can lead refined, intellectual, educated, as well as ignorant people
to hell, which is a spiritual world, a dead-to-God human spirit has no more dread of it,
than a dead human body has of material fire. When any person is careless and unconcerned
about appearing before God naked, is evidence that their spirits are dead, and that Satan
is leading them into Hell, to be clothed with fire.
It is so much better for the human body and mind, for the Spirit, to be made alive to
God, freed from Satan, and clothed in the beautiful garments of salvation, and covered
with the righteousness of the Lord Jesus Christ (Is. 61:10). It is profitable for the body
and mind for the SPIRIT, to be thus arrayed through this life (1 Tim. 4:8).
No one can clothe his own or any other spirit; no preacher, or priest, or church, or
baptism, or denomination, can clothe a naked human spirit. THIS, IS THE PREROGATIVE OF
GOD, to clothe the naked human spirit, and it, with a new nature, to live in his presence
forever.
How does God do it? He sent Jesus Christ (Jo. 3:16) into the world to save sinners (1
Tim. 1:13); and he gives life enough to human spirits (Jo. 1:9), to accept, or reject him,
on their free will. Those who will leave sin he clothes their spirits with a new birth,
those who reject him, stay naked.
