Walking Around in Grave Clothes

"that you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts," - Ephesians 4:22 (NKJV)

"Likewise, you also, reckon yourselves to be dead indeed to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 6:11 (NKJV)

In Ephesians 4:22, Paul writes, "That you put off, concerning your former conduct, the old man." In the New King James Version, this verse looks like a command, as though he is telling us to do something right now. But in the original Greek, it is not a command at all. It is describing something that has already been done, once and for all. You have already put off the old man. Kenneth Wuest, a Greek scholar, translates this, "that you have put off once for all with reference to your former manner of life the old self who is being corrupted according to the passionate desires of deceit..."

So, why are you still living like the old man - like you did before you became a Christian? Why are you still living like the lost people around you? You asked Jesus to come into your life, and He did. Now, since you have said "no" to that former lifestyle, why are you still living unchanged? You were dead, and now you are alive in Christ! It's as if you are walking around in grave clothes. You are alive, but you are acting like you are still dead.

The picture I want you to hold in your mind is Lazarus in John 11. He is dead. His sisters are grieving. Jesus arrives days after the death and says, "Roll away the stone." Martha objects. Lord, he has been dead four days. Surely he stinks. Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, yet shall he live." (John 11:25) The stone rolls away. He calls out in verse 43, "Lazarus, come forth." And the dead man walks out of the tomb.

Then Jesus says in John 11:44, "Loose that man and let him go." Lazarus is alive, but he is still wrapped in his grave clothes, still dressed for the tomb. Jesus is saying he is no longer dead. Take those grave clothes off of him.

That is what has happened to each one of us. Ephesians 2:1-3 describes how spiritually dead we really were without God, completely blind to how we are supposed to live, walking the same direction as everyone around us in their lost condition. Then Jesus came into our lives and resurrected us. But some of us are still walking around in our grave clothes. And Jesus is saying, "Loose that man and let him go." Why do you still have grave clothes? You are alive!

Romans 6:6 confirms it: "Knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin."

You have already been made dead to sin. You have already been crucified with Christ. That old man is gone. You are now alive to God! You have experienced the new birth, with Christ's life inside of you! So don't pick up those grave clothes again. Don't live like the old person you once were, with the same priorities and the same values of this world. You have received the new life of Jesus. Those grave clothes were part of your old identity. You are now alive to God! Why are you walking around with those grave clothes still on?

Reflection Question: Since you are spiritually alive in Christ, what "grave clothes" can you take off? How is your life different today from when you were not a Christian?

Dear Heavenly Father, thank You for what You have already done. Thank You that I am no longer dead in my sins, but I am spiritually alive! Help me to stop living like someone who is still dead in my sins. I am not that person anymore. Help me to walk like it today. In Jesus' Name, amen.

Adapted from: The Path to True Life Change (Eph. 4:17-24)