We are all familiar with two powerful emotions – guilt and shame. Guilt serves us well
when we do wrong because it motivates us to seek change, to make things right.
Shame, on the other hand, is generally a terribly destructive emotion that causes
us to hide, to feel worthless. It can become a root cause of all kinds of self-destructive
behaviors. Guilt says, “I did something wrong.” Shame says “There is something wrong
with me.”
After the glorious story of God and Creation, Genesis shifts
to failure, doubt, and disobedience. In a few lines, the inspired text provides
deep insight for us about the human
condition when sin comes to us. "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. Then the man and his wife heard the sound of
the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they
hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to
the man, “Where are you?” He answered, “I heard you in the garden, and I was
afraid because I was naked; so I hid.” (Genesis 3:7-10, NIV)
Adam and Eve, who enjoyed the love of their Creator and one
another, who were innocent, made a choice to disobey and, in that moment,
suddenly became vulnerable, self-aware, and guilty. Guilt morphed into shame
and tragedy overtook them – ‘they hid
from the Lord.’ The One with Whom they knew sweet fellowship became a fearful
Presence to them. In language rich with symbolism, we are told that they ‘sewed fig leaves together and made coverings
for themselves.’ Their relationship,
once open, is now complicated by covering. But, God is there!
This story lays the groundwork for the redemptive story that
is revealed in the rest of the Bible. God does not abandon us to our shame,
leaving us to struggle alone with our shame while we desperately try to keep all
our fig leaves in place. He pursues us,
loves us, and offers restoration of the life that sin stole from us. We devise
all manner of mechanisms to try to regain what we know is lost - hard work, achievement,
fancier ‘fig leaves,’ status, religiosity – to name a few. Some of us just collapse under the weight of our
sense of ‘wrongness’ and develop behaviors like addictions and compulsions in a
downward spiral.
The answer to our
guilt is not shame, it is salvation! He holds out the offer of reconciliation and forgiveness through Jesus Christ and
invites us to accept what we cannot find anywhere else. Paul’s words are compelling.
In this world, where the sinful nature
makes failure inevitable, there is this promise of healing. "We
all did … what we felt like doing, when we felt like doing it, all of us in the
same boat. It’s a wonder God didn’t lose his temper and do away with the whole
lot of us. Instead, immense in mercy and
with an incredible love, he embraced us. He took our sin-dead lives and made us alive in Christ. He did all
this on his own, with no help from us! Then he picked us up and set us down in
highest heaven in company with Jesus, our Messiah. Now God has us where he
wants us, with all the time in this world and the next to shower grace and
kindness upon us in Christ Jesus. Saving is all his idea, and all his work. All
we do is trust him enough to let him do it. It’s God’s gift from start to
finish!" (Ephesians 2:3-8, The Message)
Are you living ashamed and alone?
You can attempt to excuse yourself or explain away that which
creates guilt. You can retreat into shame’s isolation but your conscience will
not be easily stilled. Take your guilt to Him. Don’t hide! Prayerfully,
in a quiet place, let the Spirit find you and open up to Him, with honest
confession – about your confusion, about your guilt, about that shame that
makes you feel so worthless. Then, by faith, accept the grace that makes you
new and whole! Discard the ‘fig leaves’ and put on the robe of Christ’s righteousness
(right standing with God) that He gives to us, freely in Christ Jesus.
Here is a word from the Word. May it be living truth and
reason to be ashamed and alone no more. "Since you have heard all about him and have learned the truth that is
in Jesus, throw off your old evil nature and your former way of life, which is
rotten through and through, full of lust and deception. Instead, there must be
a spiritual renewal of your thoughts and attitudes. You must display a new
nature because you are a new person, created in God’s likeness—righteous, holy,
and true." (Ephesians 4:21-24, NLT)
“Every item of your new way of
life is custom-made by the Creator, with his label on it. All the old fashions
are now obsolete. … So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the
wardrobe God picked out for you.” The Message (Col 3:10-12)
________
(worship at this link)
You unravel me with a melody
You surround me with a song
Of deliverance from my enemies
Till all my fears are gone
I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
I'm no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God
From my Mother's womb
You have chosen me
Love has called my name
I've been born again into Your family
Your blood flows through my veins
You split the sea so I could walk right through it
My fears were drowned in perfect love
You rescued me so I could stand and sing
I am a child of God
Brian Johnson | Joel Case | Jonathan David Helser
© 2014 Bethel Music Publishing
CCLI License # 810055
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