Exposed by Tina W. Posted December 27, 2009
Genesis 2:25 - The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.
Genesis 3:7 - Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.
Have you ever been exposed before God? Now don't get me wrong, although Adam and Eve were literally naked before God, this is not the "exposure" I am speaking of. Adam and Eve were a great example... a literal example of what it means to be naked before God. In their disobedience Adam and Eve became suddenly aware of the vulnerable state they were in as they were literally stripped of their innocence, gaining the knowledge of good and evil. The price was steep. Mankind made mortal.
I am going to guess that in regards to my opening question many would answer... yes, absolutely... many times. For to Follow Christ reveals many truths not only about who God is but what wrong yet lurks in our own hearts. For He is an attentive Father teaching and admonishing those He loves and those who would seek the heart of Him.
It is interesting to note that Paul, in posing the question "Who shall separate us from the love of God?" would accompany the question with "Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or nakedness or danger or sword?" (Romans 8:35) Nakedness? Not even in our darkest of hours will God break the ties that hold us so close to Him. He continues to hold us through our revealing transgressions... and in our repentance, through Jesus' death on the cross we have gained His forgiveness. (Psalm 103:12) But for the repentant heart there is a mark that remains. This is a good thing! It is a lesson learned! Being naked before God reveals our naivety, lack of understanding and/or proper moral decorum. In short, the dark places of our hearts. We should not forget though, that God is a loving Father who is gracious and merciful. It was God Himself Who made proper garments for the exposed Adam and Eve.
It is clear that from the beginning God intended man to walk in fellowship with Him and to know His glory. It is also clear to me that God does not always take the quick nor easy route when going about His awesomely marvelous ways! But His power and wisdom is manifest in the great and glorious complexity we are privy to as Followers of Christ. 2 Corinthians 4:6 For God, who said, "Let light shine out of darkness," made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.
It's an on going journey of learning and correction. Until we meet the end of this journey we are yet to be fully clothed. Yes, there is such vulnerability in being naked before God... but what is exposed is the truth. The truth of how magnificent our God truly is, and how short we truly fall. But there is hope and there is healing. There is redemption in Christ!
Ignorance is not in fact so blissful as they'd like you to believe, for what would it profit a man to gain the whole world but lose his soul? (Mark 8:36)
2 Corinthians 5:2-4 -
Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, 3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked. 4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
Revelation 3:17-18 -
You say, 'I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.' But you do not realize that you are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. 18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined in the fire, so you can become rich; and white clothes to wear, so you can cover your shameful nakedness; and salve to put on your eyes, so you can see.
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