Genesis 3:6-7
6 So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. 7 Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
They knew they were naked. The presence of sin brought Adam and Eve a sense of shame. They now know that they are completely exposed, both physically and spiritually. They realize that they have something to hide and they know that they can no longer stand in the presence of God and enjoy fellowship with Him. Adam and Eve have a conviction of sin, a guilty conscience. In this way they are light years ahead of many today. Sin, if it is believed to exist at all, is not seen as something that ought to make us hide from God. This is what is so desperately needed today. Before lost people will seek out Christ for forgiveness they must come to realize that their sin is great, has separated them from God and that there is nothing they can do to remedy the situation.
But Adam and Eve only got it half right. They knew they were naked but they also thought they could cover themselves. This is precisely where so many in the world are today. Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together for a covering. This will become their full time job, for every three days they will need new fig leaves. The world is full of people who try to cover up sin with coverings of their own choosing. Whether it is penance, appeasing a variety of gods, doing good to others, being a respectable person, or simply avoiding the really big sins, people think they are good enough because of their vain attempts at covering themselves up.
How people need the Gospel. They need to hear that their attempts to look good cannot but fail. And they need to know that Jesus has done all that can be done and it is done better. He brings people into a right relationship with God, marked by joy unspeakable.
Today, if you are a believer, rejoice in the complete work of Christ for you. Rejoice that He has done all when you could do nothing. If you do not know Christ, leave off all the vain attempts to look acceptable. They are failing. You need something far better than what you can provide. Only God can do it. And He has.
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