你穿戴的是誰？

這不是近來才有的現象。在中古世紀文藝復興時期，在眾多的化裝舞會上，參加的貴族名媛就穿戴著精心製作的面具和服裝。因為多數人的內心其實都藏著一個渴望:就是變裝!可以隱藏真實的身份。即使是超級英雄們，也都帶著面具，像超人、鋼鐵人、蜘蛛人、蝙蝠俠等。

戴上假面具這個渴望似乎深深地隱藏在我們的內心深處。孩子們從小就喜歡玩扮家家酒的遊戲。我們喜歡在認識的人面前變裝，做一個不一樣的自己，而且還樂在其中。還記得幾年前，我在為某一家公司工作時，工作內容中就有一項要穿著乳牛的衣服參加公開的活動。因為沒有人知道我是誰，所以可以盡情滑稽地演出，也無所謂。

在職場上，「裝扮」可以讓我們看起來更成功。幾年前有一本書叫做「為成功而裝扮Dress for Success(註1)」大賣！內容在建議工商專業人士如何穿著打扮，會增加他們的同事和顧客好的回應。衣著的標準現在已經有很大的改變，但是人們仍然傾向於從外表來評價一個人。

聖經裡也提到這樣的事。撒母耳記上16章7節提到－耶和華卻對撒母耳說：「不要看他的外貌和他身材高大，我不揀選他。因為，耶和華不像人看人：人是看外貌；耶和華是看內心。」

這段經文指出兩個重點，第一、我們可能會被人的外表所騙，無法知道他們內心的動機或是真正的想法。就像俗話所說的，外表會騙人。第二、我們也許可以偽裝成別人，但是神可以透視我們的外表看到我們的內心。「人一切所行的，在自己眼中看為清潔；惟有耶和華衡量人心。」(箴言16章2節)

「你穿戴的是誰？」這個問題的另外一個值得思考的地方是:也許我們多數的人都沒有想過這個問題!聖經提到，我們死後要面對一種審判，在那裡會被問到一個類似「你穿戴的是誰?」這樣的問題。如果回答是:我穿著「努力工作」、我穿著「認真盡力」，就聖經來看，這些都不夠，因為只有穿著一件衣服會被認可。下面我會解釋這件衣服是什麼？

加拉太書3章26-28節提到：「所以，你們因信基督耶穌都是　神的兒子。你們受洗歸入基督的都是披戴基督了。並不分猶太人、希臘人，自主的、為奴的，或男或女，因為你們在基督耶穌裏都成為一了。」

另一個經節也告訴我們：「 就要脫去你們從前行為上的舊人，…. 並且穿上新人；這新人是照著　神的形像造的，有真理的仁義和聖潔。」(以弗所書4章22-24節)。其實還有其他類似的經節，但都是一再確定一件事: 那就是當有一天，在審判的時候站在神面前，只有穿戴上耶穌基督這件祂為我們訂製的袍子，才可以得到肯定。而在那一天，你將會穿著什麼呢？

註1: 「Dress for Success為成功而裝扮」，此書台灣沒有出版，由cbmc總會自行翻譯。

作者Len M. Allen住在美國田納西州的査塔努加市，曾經在零售業、電視業、廣播業和報業工作超過三十五年，目前已退休。著有「Unemployed: Life in the Wilderness.曠野中的生活－談失業」一書。

This is not a recent phenomenon. During the Renaissance Era, for instance, lavish costume balls were staged with dignitaries showing up in elaborate masks and even more elaborate suits and dresses. Most people share a common desire to cover themselves with costumes to conceal their true identity. Even fictional superheroes of comic books, like Superman, Ironman, Spiderman and Batman, wear costumes.

Putting on outfits of disguise seems deeply entrenched in our collective psyche. Children find it liberating to play “dress up.” We find it enjoyable when people we know do not know who we are because of our attire. I remember working for a company years ago where part of my job was dressing up in a cow costume and attending public events. Since no one knew who I was, I felt empowered to act zany and feel totally free.

In the workplace, “costumes” can support our need to succeed. Years ago the book Dress for Success became a big seller, advising business and professional people how to select and wear clothing that would enhance how their colleagues and clients would respond to them. Standards for proper attire have changed greatly, but we still have the tendency to evaluate people according to how they look on the outside.

Even the Bible affirms this. In 1 Samuel 16:7 it states, “…The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.“

That simple passage makes two important points. One is that we can be fooled by the way people appear externally, unable to see their inner motives or hear their secret thoughts. As the adage tells us, “Looks can be deceiving.” The other is that although we might be able to disguise ourselves to other people, God can see through our “costumes” and understand who we really are. That is why Proverbs 16:2 declares, “All a man”s ways seem innocent to him, but motives are weighed by the Lord.“

But there is another aspect to the question, “Who are you wearing?” most of us never consider. According to the Scriptures, after we die we will face a judgment day in which we will hear a question similar to “Who are you wearing.” If we answer that we are wearing “good works” or “well-meaning efforts,” the Bible says that will not be sufficient. Only one “costume” will be accepted on that day. Let me explain.

One passage, Galatians 3:26-28, states, “For in Christ Jesus you are all sons of God, through faith. For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ. There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”

Another verse tells us, “put off the old self…and put on the new self, which in the likeness of God has been created in righteousness and holiness of the truth” (Ephesians 4:22-2). There are many similar passages, but each reaffirms when we stand before God for our individual day of judgment, only the covering of Jesus Christ – the “robes” He has made for us – will receive divine approval. On that very special day, who will you be wearing?

Len M. Allen lives in Chattanooga, Tenn., U.S.A. and is a veteran of more than 35 years in the corporate worlds of retail, television, radio, newspapers and advertising. He is the author of Unemployed: Life in the Wilderness.