Nudist or Not?

1 Peter 3:3-4

"Do not let your adorning be external--the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing--but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious."

I read this verse yesterday. And then I read it again, slowly. Then I pondered the words thoroughly for awhile. I mean, I've heard this verse before, but it struck me as being particularly interesting this time. "What are you saying Peter?? Are braids of the devil? I used to always have my hair braided....Gold jewelry is banned too?! Oh c'mon, that doesn't include my gold cross necklace does it? Wait wait. Don't adorn yourself with clothes!!? Now you're just pulling my leg Peter. I never heard anything about YOU walkin' round town in your birthday suit...psh." All of a sudden this picture of myself popped into my head, I looked rather Eve in the Garden of Eden-ish. No braids, no jewelry, and not a speck of clothing. Pardon me Mr. Apostle, sir, but it sounds like you're telling me to join a nudist colony? I'm just not sure I'm ready for this. However, as I'm determined to strive my utmost to obey God's Word! I have decided to join a nudist colony, I'm leaving home today(it was pretty easy to pack up, seeing as I'm not bringing any outward adornments with me)...........*tense, awkward silence*.............HA! You may resume your normal breathing pattern now, I'm entirely kidding. No nudist colonies for this Calvinist chick. 

Rest assured, that is certainly not the idea which Peter was attempting to convey to his readers. I repeat: it is not a sin to wear clothes. ((sigh of relief)) In being translated from the original languages into English, sometimes the Bible loses some of the clarity it had before 'twas translated....the apostle Peter's point: your external adornments should never be your main concern, and your beauty ought not to be defined by the external. I mean, external stuff is great, no red-blooded women can truthfully deny the fun of accessorizing! But after stripping away the pretty hair, lovely jewelry, cute clothes....what's left? Those adornments are so temporary, so fleeting. Moths put holes in the clothes and they get worn out or go out of style, the jewelry rusts and becomes tarnished, thieves "break in and steal." Not to say that wanting to look nice and be pretty is a bad thing. As Christians, we are told that our bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, and we are supposed to take good care of them. You should care about what you look like, but not for the purpose of gaining admiration in the eyes of men and trying to please the world with your physical appearance; but instead for God's glorification. I don't want people to look at me and say "she's pretty," and stop with that. I want them to go past just noticing my physical looks and more importantly see the adornments of my "hidden person." I desire that my outward beauty be merely a reflection of a much more valuable inner loveliness, that (hopefully, with God's help) is constantly being revealed through my words and actions. 

When earthly beauties have faded, will I still exude that imperishable beauty of "a gentle and quiet spirit?" Don't settle for artificial glamour. Go for the authentic beauty that is so very precious in your Heavenly Father's sight.

The following Nicole Nordeman lyrics express very well the desire to leave a legacy of true beauty. 

"I won't lie, it feels alright to see your name in lights
We all need an 'Atta boy' or 'Atta girl'
But in the end I'd like to hang my hat on more besides
The temporary trappings of this world

I want to leave a legacy
How will they remember me?
Did I choose to love? Did I point to You enough
To make a mark on things?
I want to leave an offering
A child of mercy and grace who
blessed your name unapologetically
And leave that kind of legacy

I don't have to look too far or too long a while
To make a lengthy list of all that I enjoy
It's an accumulating trinket and a treasure pile
Where moth and rust, thieves and such will soon enough destroy

Not well traveled, not well read, not well-to-do or well bred
Just want to hear instead, "Well Done" good and faithful one..."