All articles

More than clothes: Your “royal” identity and how to protect it

by Pastor Romeo Pop 3 min read

Have you ever thought of the way you live as a garment you wear? In our culture, clothes say something about us – a suit says you mean business, designer labels say status. But what if I told you that you’ve been given a spiritual “garment” that defines your true identity?

In a passage from the Old Testament (Exodus 28), the priests wore a special garment called the “blue robe.” It wasn’t just any blue. It was “tekhelet” – an extremely rare color, costly and hard to obtain, used by kings.

This garment isn’t just an old story. It’s a picture of the identity that you receive too.

1. The color: You are “royal”

This blue robe showed that the priest was set apart. The color stood for heaven and royalty.

  • Your identity: The Bible says that you, too, are “a royal priesthood.” Your identity is heavenly, not earthly.
  • Your reflection: The color came from the inside out. What you are on the inside – a son, a daughter of the King – has to show on the outside.

The result: This “royal” identity is tied to well-being and abundance. You are called to reflect the riches of heaven, not only spiritually but in your everyday life too.

2. The sound: You are alive (and dangerous)

The robe wasn’t silent. Along its lower edge, it had golden bells.

  • The purpose: When the priest entered God’s presence, the bells rang. As long as the sound could be heard, the people knew he was alive.
  • Your sound: Your sound today is your praise, your prayer (especially praying in the Spirit), and your testimony. These are your “golden bells.”
  • The impact: When you make spiritual “noise,” you announce in heaven and on earth: “I’m ALIVE!” You have authority. Hell has to hear you.
  • The warning: Silence leaves you exposed. When nothing can be heard, when you withdraw and go quiet, you give no sign of spiritual life.

3. The fruit: You are authentic

But the sound wasn’t enough. Between the bells there were pomegranates (fruit).

  • The balance: There was a bell, then a pomegranate. A bell, a pomegranate. You couldn’t have one without the other.
  • The meaning: You can’t just “make noise” (be a loud Christian) if you don’t also have “fruit.” The fruit is your character: love, peace, patience, kindness.
  • The authenticity: When your bell rings (you talk about God), people need to see the fruit as well (your changed character).

4. The hem: You are protected (or exposed)

Perhaps the most important detail: the garment was made so that it would not tear. The opening of the robe (at the neck) had a special hem, woven like a coat of mail (armor).

  • The protection: This hem represents your holiness – your spiritual protection. It’s like a wall that won’t let the enemy in.
  • The weak point: A garment starts to unravel from a torn hem.
  • The tear: What tears your spiritual hem? Unforgiveness. When you hold bitterness in your heart toward someone, your hem is torn.
  • The consequence: A small tear leads to the whole garment unraveling. Bitterness opens the door to sickness.

Conclusion: Wear your garment well

You have been given a blue garment, a royal identity, precious and full of authority.

But this garment has to be looked after.

  1. Make some noise: Pray, praise God, be alive.
  2. Show the fruit: Be kind, forgive, love.
  3. Mend the hem: Don’t let unforgiveness or bitterness unravel your protection.

Don’t let your robe end up in tatters. You’re “royal” – act like it.

Read next