Naked and Afraid

Happy New Year! Here we go into 2017. This is the start of my fourth year since my life we set on a different course due to a long hospitalization. I have started my annual “read through the Bible” plan and look forward to sharing thoughts in my blog through this year. This may be the year that I don’t maintain the “daily” reflections that have continued since my hospitalization when Debbie established a CaringBridge site to report updates on my health status. My thanks to those who have journeyed with me in this way over the years and will continue to do so in the year ahead.

BIBLE VERSE FOR TODAY…. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.” Genesis 3:10,11 ESV

It was the opposite of a modern day, reality show of two couples facing a testing their survivor skills in a wilderness area. This couple had all that they needed; all provided by the God who created them and the heavens and the earth. However the peace and tranquility they were experiencing had been broken by one encounter and the alluring, “try it you’ll like” trap of the serpent.

They “tried it” but the fruit that looked so appealing had a “bad after taste.” They now had knowledge of what they had not experienced, but not what they needed to. As a result, they saw themselves outside of the reassuring connection of God and they realized they were “naked’ and they were afraid.

The time came that they “feared.” The Lord God calling Adam’s name. “Where are you? Who told you, you were naked? Have you eaten of the fruit?” The tension could have not been any greater than a court room drama with the guilty on the witness stand being cross examined by a passionate prosecutor.  Palms sweating, heart racing. A desire to turn back the clock and to wish they had not done, what they had done.

We see them responding as mankind has responded ever since. No direct admission. Trying to soften the guilt, trying to “side step” with indirect responses, “the women, you gave me….” Eve points finger at the serpent. Personal responsibility continues to be something that is difficult to accept. It is always some one else’s fault….There were mitigating circumstances…I’m really not the bad, that type of a person.

John would state it accurately when he wrote, “…fear has to do with punishment.” (1 John 4:18 NIV) Adam and Eve had to face the consequences of their actions. They could hide themselves, but they could not hide from themselves or God. John would write about sin and tell us that it does no good, to deny it, to justify it, to rationalize it. Sin must be confessed.

“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”                 (1 John 1:9 ESV)

When we find ourselves “exposed” as we really and we are to remember to run to God, not from God. Remember we can’t hide from God, we can only fool ourselves. “By this we shall know that we are of the truth and reassure our heart before him; for whenever our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and he knows everything.” (1 John 3:19,20 ESV)

Prayer for today…. Lord, we can see Adam and Eve in ourselves. Thank You that we have been provided a Savior who is able to deal with our sin, so we don’t have to hide or deny; but we can confess and find restoration and peace.