NAKED AND NOT ASHAMED

Genesis 2:25 and the man and His wife were both naked and were not embarrassed or ashamed of each other’s presence (AMPL).

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od created Adam and placed Him in the Garden of Eden. He however could not find a suitable helper for him among the animals that God had created and therefore, God made Adam to fall asleep, removed a rib from Him and made Eve, a suitable helper for Him. In Verse 25 above, we are told that they were both naked and not ashamed. Well, God had created them with no clothes and needing none. They didn’t have to conceal any part of their bodies from the sight of each other. They were not ashamed, they were comfortable with themselves and each other. They were one flesh, united in all things and they shared al things! There was nothing shameful, nothing sinful about their nakedness. God would visit them, in their very naked nature, and they would have a fellowship and there was nothing wrong about it!

 

It was not until Adam and Eve sinned that their eyes were opened, they realized they were naked, they covered themselves with leaves and hid themselves from the presence of God! What had changed? They were guilt, they had done what the Lord had commanded them not to do! They had sinned! They couldn’t face their maker! They were naked and ashamed!

Now, God had created Adam and Eve in His own image, given them dominion over every other creation, power to rule and subdue the earth. God wanted to have a relationship with mankind. He wanted mankind to worship him in truth and spirit, and this couldn’t be done from a hide out. It couldn’t be done from a point of guilty and shame, it could only be done from a point of confidence and boldness. It is for the reason that He send his only son to die on the cross, for the redemption of mankind.

Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. The experience on the cross paid it all, Jesus was humiliated and endured the shame and embarrassment on the cross for us. He paid for any humiliation that would ever cross our lives. In exchange we have freedom, boldness and confidence in God our father. Jesus was stripped naked on the cross, and instead clothed with a garment of honor. Matthew 27:28 And they stripped off His clothes and put a scarlet robe (garment of dignity worn by roman offices of rank), we as well are clothed in Him and now we no longer should we walk in shame, we are covered, loved and treasured. 

Now that we are in Christ Jesus, we are no longer strangers in the family of God. We are adopted in the family of God. The desire of our father is that we approach Him not as a God who is far from us, not as God who doesn’t understand, but as a father who loves us, who knows us and understands our needs. It is in that capacity that God desires a fellowship and a relationship with Him.  At times our hearts are so broken and we may think that God does not understand! Not at all, Hebrews 4:15, For we do not have a high priest who is unable to understand and sympathize and have a shared feeling with our weaknesses and infirmities and liability to assaults of temptation, but one who has been tempted in every respect as we are, yet without sin.(AMP)

Well, all what God wants us is to appear, “naked” and broken before Him, allowing him in our hearts to reign, surrendering all to him, all our weaknesses, worries, fears even our thoughts. All God wants is that we may lay our hearts naked to Him, total surrender, withholding nothing, not ashamed, broken before the master, total surrender. It is this aspect that qualified David to be called a man after God’s heart. When we approach our father in heaven, he desires that we open up as much as possible, allow him to work on us, even when the process is painful and uncomfortable. He wants us to be real with Him, naked and not ashamed before Him. He wants a relationship with us, not a transaction! He desires true worship…are you grateful? Thank Him. Are you hurting? Open up to Him. Have you sinned? Repent …whichever situation you are in, just be true to Him…naked and not ashamed.

Psalms 51:6 Behold, you desire truth in the inner being; make me therefore to know wisdom in my inmost heart. Vs. 17 my sacrifice (the sacrifice acceptable) to God is a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart (broken down with sorrow for sin and humbly and thoroughly penitent) such, O god, You will not despise (AMP)

Child of God, all that God wants from you is honest and true worship…deep from the heart. Broken before the master. Naked but not ashamed.