Winter 2008

Arrayed in His Glory
Wade E Taylor

“And they heard the voice of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.” Genesis 3:8

The “voice of the Lord walking” tells us that He has something to say to us today that is beyond what He said yesterday. He has a purpose and He is walking toward it. This purpose begins with redemption.

“And the Lord God called to Adam, and said to him, Where are you?” Genesis 3:9

The Lord knew where they were, but He was seeking a confession. He is asking where they are in their relationship to Him. Adam responded:

“And he said, I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10

They did not loose their innocence and then discover that they had no clothes. They lost something far more important than a sense of propriety.

When Adam lost the covering of “Shekinah,” he hid because he could not stand the power of the presence of the Lord. In order to abide the fullness of His glory, we also need a “covering.” This covering is “Shekinah,” the manifested glory of the Lord that enables us to enter into and abide in the presence of God.

Adam’s confession brought forgiveness, and the beginning of the process that would lead to the restoration of the Shekinah Glory. An animal was slain, and through the shedding of blood, they were forgiven, and were given a covering, but that which they had “eaten” was still within them.

This was the “right to their own lives.” Now they could choose as they desired, apart from their submission to the Lord.

“Then Jesus said to His disciples, If any man will come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24

The taking up of our cross means that we submit, and “die” to the right to our own lives and surrender “unconditionally” to the Lordship of Jesus.

When we accept salvation, we are covered with the “Garment of Salvation.” But there is another garment - the “Bridal Garment.” Our garment, forgiveness through the blood of salvation, is a free gift. Through a process of overcoming obedience, it is replaced with the Bridal Garment. This Bridal garment must be “woven” by us.

Jesus is “walking,” as He desires to bring us from simply having salvation to the place where we become His Bride. Here, we will again be covered with the “Shekinah” so we can sit with Him in His throne.

This preparation, the weaving of our “Bridal Garment,” is the commitment of our lives to submission and obedience to His will and purpose, as we walk with Him.

“Let us be glad and rejoice, and give honor to Him: for the marriage of the Lamb is come, and His wife has made “herself” ready. And to her was granted that she should array herself in fine linen, clean and white: for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.” Revelation 19:7-8 ASV