Romans 10:11 / ESV
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.”
I have a tremendous appreciation for beautiful, hand-made items. So much time and attention goes into things that are hand-crafted. I personally own several gifts from loved ones who used their creativity and designed something special just for me. All of them treasures. When something is hand-made, it requires a lot of thought and effort on behalf of the maker, and there is a certain level of pride and affection the designer feels toward the thing they’re creating. They invest their time and resources and pour their heart and soul into making sure it’s as perfect as can be, all the while, thinking of the receiver and hoping they find it as something to be treasured as well.
I was recently reading in the book of Genesis on how God created Adam and Eve. They were the workmanship of His hands, made alive by His divine breath. He created the heavens and the earth, the trees and the plants, the birds and the beasts, all with just a word – spoken into existence. Except for Adam and Eve. They were special - crafted and molded by His hands. God created them in His own image and gave them a beautiful garden to enjoy. Animals roamed freely. Flowers, trees, plants and every fresh fruit and vegetable imaginable was within reach. Even a river flowed through to water the garden, and everything was perfect. They were pure, completely without sin, naked and not ashamed. They were given just one rule to abide by and that was they could not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.
As the story goes on, we find that they were tempted by the serpent to take a bite of the fruit from the forbidden tree and to dismiss God’s instructions. They gave in and instantly sin entered. Soon after, they heard God walking through the garden and hid themselves from Him. Just moments before, they were naked, unashamed and not even aware of their nakedness. Now, suddenly, they’re afraid, awakened to the fact that they’re naked, hiding and trying to cover themselves up because of their shame. Due to their disobedience, God evicted them from the garden.
The one thing that stood out to me this time, as I was reading, was that although they were made to face the consequences of their sin, God still demonstrated mercy and compassion toward His creation that He loved so much. He made clothes for them from the skins of animals to cover their nakedness and shame, so they no longer had to hide. He didn’t want to leave them exposed. He didn’t want them to continue in shame. He covered them because He loved them.
How many times have we fallen short and experienced shame from the choices we made in life, or felt exposed because of our failures? Just like Adam and Eve, God is here to provide a covering. He sent His Son, Jesus, as a final sacrifice to cover the sin and shame for all mankind. Instead of the temporary covering made from the skins of animals, Christ’s sacrifice covered us eternally, once and for all. When God calls our name, no longer do we have to hide in shame, but only accept the covering of the blood Christ shed, and allow Him to clothe us in righteousness.
For information on how you can experience the gift of salvation and redemption from sin and shame, please click on Resources and choose ‘How Can I Be Saved’.
Scriptures:
Isaiah 61:10 / ESV
I will greatly rejoice in the Lord; my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation; he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself like a priest with a beautiful headdress, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Romans 8:1 / ESV
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
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