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Law or Linen
Tiffany Ann Lewis
The Lord is removing the cloak of Cain off His people.
oven into the fiber of our being there is a work that we, individually, need to do. It’s part of our destiny. We were created to be a people of purpose. However, the devil likes to twist this around and make us think that our worth comes from our works.
Prior to sin, pleasing God was effortless. He looked at everything He created and said it was “Good.” Often when we think of The Garden of Eden, we envision Adam and Eve living the life of luxury with nothing to do but hang out with God in the cool of the evening. Scripture reveals something different. First and foremost, Adam (representing all humanity) was created by God for God, yet he also had another purpose. Adam was placed in the Paradise of God to tend it and keep it. He worked while existing in perfect harmony with the Creator, Elohim.
After the fall, pleasing God was no longer effortless; now it took work and effort, repentance and sacrifice. Immediately after the exit of Eden we see the first example of working in an attempt to be accepted. Both Adam and Eve’s sons brought an offering from their trade, Abel’s was accepted and Cain’s was not. (See Genesis 4:3-7)
This works for worth influence has been crouching at the door of humanity ever since in an attempt to keep us walking on a tight rope of acceptance. I call it the gym class syndrome. The best kids get chosen first. Feelings of value and acceptance flood the heart of the one who is picked; meanwhile those who remain become jealous and depressed. Some will compete for position, or in Cain’s case kill for it, others will just quit because the pain of rejection is too much to bear.
Showing your love and gratitude through service is considerably different than serving in order to be loved and accepted. We know this already yet something deep down inside still wrestles with letting it go. I believe this is because for many of us, what we do has become our identity and we gain a sense of security that is dependent upon our works.
Beloved, it’s hard, if not impossible, to experience the fullness of the freedom Jesus provided without understanding the Law of Moses and the 613 Mitzvot that the worshiper of God is instructed to “do”. You see, we weren’t just freed from the grave, we were accepted in the Beloved!
Mitzvah (pronounced MITZ-vah) is a Hebrew word which means “commandment(s)” and “connection(s).” The word stems from a root which means “attachment.” The idea is that the mitzvah creates a bond between God, who commands, and the individual, who performs. The worshiper connects with God through fulfilling His commands.
Can you see the dilemma?
Contrary to popular thought, these Divine Commands are not manmade laws. These 613 refer to the laws found in the first five books of the Bible (Genesis through Deuteronomy/The Torah.) There are two types of Mitzvot mentioned, Positive “do this” commands and Negative “don’t do this” ones. We are familiar with some of the positive Mitzvot commands such as: do love the Lord, do remember the Sabbath, and do honor your parents. We are also familiar with some of the negative Mitzvot commands as well such as: don’t take the Lords name in vain, don’t murder, and don’t steal. But what about all the others, like the countless do eat this and don’t eat that food laws, or do say grace after meals (Deut. 8:10), do love a stranger (Deut. 10:19), don’t be one that spreads gossip or rumors (Lev. 19:16), do not break a vow that you have made (Numb. 30:2).
There are 248 positive commands and 365 negative ones for a grand total of 613 and the reality is if you transgress in one you are guilty of them all. (James 2:10)
I think, on this side of the cross, we might not stumble on the 613 but we may wrestle with not praying enough, reading the bible enough, fasting enough, being kind enough, volunteering enough, giving enough, etc. etc.. This list goes on and on. Enough is enough!
“BEWARE lest anyone CHEAT you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the tradition of men, according to the basic principles of the world, and not according to Christ. (Colossians 2:8) The devil is a liar and he is crouching at our door trying to cheat us of the free gift of grace that God gave us through Jesus Christ. We are accepted in the Beloved because of what He has done for us not what we can do for Him period.
I believe we get deceived by phrases like; “for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints” that is found in Revelation 19:8. That’s how many popular Bible translations translate it. However, the original authorized King James version translated the Greek like this: “And to her was granted that she should be arrayed in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteousness of saints.” That is quite a difference doncha think? Righteous acts versus righteousness.
What do you think of when you hear the word “saint?” I think of someone who is really good. But that is not what it means biblically. A saint, literally, is “a most holy thing.” (Strong’s #40) It means to be sacred, pure, immaculate, clean. Now, how does that happen exactly? Is there something that we can do in and of ourselves to get that way? Of course not, we are holy because He makes us so. A saint is simply someone who believes that Jesus Christ paid the debt that was incurred by their sin. Scripture reveals that “Abraham believed God and it was accounted to him as righteousness.” (Romans 4:3)
It’s all about what we believe. Why is it easier to believe that we will be raised from the dead than it is to believe that we are accepted apart from what we do or don’t do? Love Himself has wiped away the handwriting of requirements and nailed them to the cross. (See Colossians 2:14) Don’t take them off the Cross and pin them back on yourself.
Saints wear linen, not law. Linen is valued for its exceptional coolness and freshness in hot weather. Adam’s curse was that his work would now cause him to sweat, “in the sweat of your face you shall eat bread…” (Gen. 3:19) Symbolically, linen represents a materiel that will keep you from sweating. Linen is granted to us, actually given to us, not so that we will never have to work, but rather so that we don’t have to break a sweat for acceptance.
Linen is made from the fibers of the flax plant. The plants are pulled from the ground, rather than cut, in order to retain the full length of the fibers and to prevent discoloration. Do you see the symbolism even in the harvesting process? Because the idea of working to be of worth is so hard to get out of our head, the Lord will pull this mentality up by its roots so that none of it remains to ensnare us again.
The Word of God is living and powerful and is being released to root up, pull down and destroy our “mitzvot mentalities” in order to build and re-plant our foundation in the truth. The truth is that nothing can separate us from the Love of God which is found in Christ Jesus. Not what we do or don’t do…nothing.
You were worth it to Him even while you were struggling in sin. He demonstrated His love for you at the Cross. Rest in the grace of God – you don’t have to work to earn it. HalleluYah!
Now, as I mentioned in the beginning, there is a work that we are all created to do in this world. It is not connected to being accepted, but it is connected to fulfilling our destiny. Much, if not all, of our fleshly ways need to go in order to walk the walk and talk the talk. For that, we have purification, hence: the bride has made herself ready. Nevertheless, we must remain convinced that we are already accepted so that this process of purification doesn’t turn into a work in which we sweat, but it remains a response in which we worship.
To her it was granted to be clothed in white linen. Beloved, to YOU it has been granted. Love has rescued you and clothed you in acceptance. (Wear it well.) You are accepted in the Beloved. Arise, take your place by His side.
“I am my Beloved’s, and His desire is towards me.” (Song of Solomon 7:10). Amen!
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