It is about time again for the Great Uncover Up. It happens all over the United States, but I am particularly noticing it here in Florida. In fact it has been going on now for a couple of months. I am referring to the time of year when many people, including Christians, decide to go with the fashion of the world and uncover their bodies so that they can get the sun, or get into the swim - or whatever.

I know that this kind of dress is noticeable among men as well as women, but as a man, I notice it among the women. The fashion industries make little change in the men's summer apparel, but it tries to make its great "advances" in the area of women's swim wear and lounge wear. We might question the kind of advances that are made by the companies in light of the advances made by men toward women because of their clothes (or lack of them).

I am reminded of Adam and Eve and our minds' pictures of them wearing their fig leaves. We read that they "sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings" (Gen. 3:7). They recognized their nakedness and their need to cover it up. Yet they were unsuccessful in their coverup, for God "made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them" (3:21). 1 wonder what God would make for some of His people if He were to meet them this summer?

I might remark here concerning the audience that I hope will read this article: I want fathers, husbands, wives, mothers, - men and women of all ages - to read this and cover themselves up or see that those in their family are dressing in the way that God would have His people dress. I say this because of an event that happened to me once. A lady was complaining of another young preacher's exhortations to the church about covering up. She said, "Why, we are a bunch of old ladies; we don't wear those kind of clothes. We don't even look good in them." It was not twenty minutes before I met her daughter. She came in wearing the miniest of mini-skirts, showing her - you guessed it -behind! That was not all! Ten minutes later, she was coming to lunch in her bikini. I could hear that lady saying, "We don't need that kind of preaching." Got the picture? I certainly did!

The admonition to a young preacher is: "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, purity, show yourself (notice Paul did not stop here) an example of those who believe" (1 Tim. 4:12). Note that word "purity" and see if you are able to reconcile it with the swim wear of today.

Wives were told that they could win their husbands in some cases by their "chaste" - not chased - "and respectful behavior" (1 Pet. 3:2). Women, beware that there are those whose eyes are "full of adultery" (2 Pet. 2:14); do not add wood to their burning passion. For this reason, the Great Uncover Up may be a matter of spiritual life or death. We might be instrumental in causing the death of others, and reduce our chances of gaining eternal life.

While you are making a sigh of relief by shedding some of those clothes, you may be making someone else merely sigh.

Truth Magazine XXIV: 29, p. 465
July 24, 1980