Tassles at the bottom of a blue cord dangling from the corners of your jacket or coat are the big fashion rage this year. Yes, tassled fringes for guys and girls. Check it out! Well, not really. But there was a day when such tassles were definitely in for God’s earthly people – the Jews. They were instructed to wear them. If you were a Jew, you would definitely know what I am talking about. Even to this day the Jews wear the tzitzit – the Jewish fringe hung by the blue thread or ribband.
The tassels were symbolic. They visually communicated a message – much like a wedding ring does. When you see a wedding ring on a hand, you get the message: this person is linked to another person; this person belongs to another; this person is in a committed relationship – a life-long covenant with one person.
The LORD said to Moses,
“.tell them to make tassels on the corners of their garments.
and to put a cord of blue on the tassel of each corner.
And it shall be a tassel for you to look at
and remember all the commandments of the LORD, to do them,
not to follow after your own heart and your own eyes,
which you are inclined to whore after.
So you shall remember and do all my commandments, and be holy to your God.
(Numbers 15:37-40)
The message of the tassle was: I am linked to the Lord God. Just like the blue sapphire pavement around the throne of God (Exodus 24:10) – I am linked to Heaven. I belong to the Lord – not to this world. I please God – not my own desires, cravings, fantasies, lusts and pleasures.
The Lord knew the effects of original sin in the human race left an inner inclination in every human heart to do what pleases ourselves – not God. So to counter that inner inclination to do wrong things, the Jews were to wear reminders on their clothes that they are to please God up in Heaven rather than please themselves down here on earth.
Paul said that as we read our Bibles and behold the glory of the Lord, the exalted Christ we ourselves are transformed into the same image. (2 Corinthians 3:18) The more we read our Bibles and meditate on our Lord Jesus Christ – something happens to us. We gradually change, becoming more and more Christ-like in our thinking and conduct. More heavenly-minded.
On a clear day look up – what color is the sky? If we spent more time spiritually looking up – we’d see more ‘blue’ in our lives. Our friends would see the tassles hanging from cords of blue in our lives, distinguishing us from those travelling the road to Hell. Do your friends see much blue in your life?