A Picture to All
By Amy Pavlovik
Our outward appearance presents a picture to all who see
us. It reveals, to a great extent, the condition of our inward appearance, our character. “Dress is an index of the mind
and heart. That which is hung upon the outside is the sign of what is within.”
1MCP 289.
The style and appearance of clothing we choose comprises
an important part of the all-round testimony we give with our lives. It
proclaims whether we are living to glorify and attract attention to ourselves,
or whether we believe, “He must increase, but I must decrease.” John 3:30. “Our words, our acts, our dress, our
deportment, even the expression of the countenance, has an influence. Upon the
impression thus made there hang results for good or evil which no man can
measure.”
We have been given the work of proclaiming the Three
Angels’ Messages, to prepare people for Jesus’ Second Coming. And whether we
realize it or not, our dress is a sermon either for, or against, this message.
“The third angel of Revelation 14 is represented as flying swiftly through the
midst of heaven crying: ‘Here are they that keep the command-ments of God, and
the faith of Jesus.’ Here is shown the nature of the work of the people of God.
They have a message of so great import-ance that they are represented as flying
in the presentation of it to the world…. Not only by their profession, but by
their character
and
dress, all are to have a winning influence.” 5T 206, 207.
“Our words, our actions, our deportment, our dress,
everything, should preach. Not only with our words should we speak to the
people, but everything pertaining to our person should be a sermon to them….”
2T 618. “Our faith, our dress, and our
deportment must be in harmony with the character of our work, the presentation
of the most solemn message ever given to the world.” Ev 542. “That humility will be particular to
have the person and actions and apparel of all who preach the holy truth of
God, right and perfectly proper, so that every item connected with us will
recommend our holy religion. The very dress will be a recommendation of the
truth to unbelievers. It will be a sermon in itself. . . .” 3SM 251. “Our words, our actions, and our
dress are daily, living preachers, gathering with Christ or scattering abroad.
This is no trivial matter to be passed off with a jest. The subject of dress
demands serious reflection and much prayer.” 4T 641.
Not only does our dress preach, not only does it have the
potential to gather with Christ or scatter from Him, but choosing proper dress is
an important aspect of true religion. “The sum and substance of true religion
is to own and continually acknowledge, by words, by dress, by deportment, our
relationship to God.” 4T 582.
The topic of dress and outward appear-ance is one of deep
importance. And it is especially necessary that we take time to study out this
topic thoroughly, for it is one which has been, to a great extent, strangely
neglected.
All quotations from Ellen G. White