Shame
After eating the forbidden fruit, the two realized for the first time they were naked. They quickly gathered fig leaves, interweaving them to cover their naked bodies. And when they heard the sound of the LORD God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, they hid from the LORD God's presence.
–iBIBLE Chapter 2
Scripture reference: Genesis 3:8
When Eve takes the fruit and eats, she extends her hand to her husband, offering for him to partake in the same act of rebellion against their Creator. Adam was meant to steward the garden. He was meant to be the one to take charge over creation—to subdue it. Having been created without sin, Adam was expected to follow God’s one law: “Do not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.”
And yet, he allowed the serpent, Satan in the form of a beast of the field, to rule over him through this deception. The creational order is reversed, and Adam submits himself to the temptation of the serpent.
We read later in Scripture that Adam is the reason we all experience the effects of sin (see Romans 5:12–21). His fall into sin became the pattern for all of us today, and our very nature is sinful since all humans come from the line of Adam. It is easy to blame Eve, but both Adam and Eve are responsible for the corruption, disease, suffering, and death that we experience today.
Before the fall of mankind, there was no situation in which Adam and Eve felt bad about how they looked, what they said, thought, or did. In fact, Adam and Eve had been in such perfect fellowship with the Lord that they could be in His presence naked, yet they were not ashamed.
For their entire existence, Adam and Eve had operated one way in the garden: naked and unashamed. Without fear or concern of judgment, they were at one with God. In a moment, everything changed.
After eating the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, Adam and Eve begin to experience the repercussions of sin immediately. They quickly attempt to cover their bodies with fig leaves after realizing they were naked. They run and hide from God. The closeness that they had with their Creator was severed, and they can no longer stand in His presence without feeling condemned. This shame is not only about their bodies. It reveals the regret and pain they feel over the sin they had just committed.
His fall into sin became the pattern for all of us today, and our very nature is sinful since all humans come from the line of Adam.
The closeness that they had with their Creator was severed, and they can no longer stand in His presence without feeling condemned.
Our Response
There will be moments in our lives where we feel like we cannot approach God because our sin is too great. He can never forgive me. God could never love me after I did that. These are lies from the evil one. When you feel the tug of shame rising up in your soul, remember that Jesus promises to save all who believe in Him. Belief in the saving power of Christ is all that is necessary. Jesus takes care of the rest. Through Jesus’s death and resurrection, He takes away our shame:
For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” — Romans 10:11 [ESV]
Though death came through Adam, Christ came into the world to bring eternal life for all who believe in Him. Jesus breaks the power of death, making it a pathway to everlasting life.
For as by a man came death, by a man has come also the resurrection from the dead. For as in Adam all die, so also in Christ shall all be made alive. —1 Corinthians 15:21–22
We therefore do not live as people without hope.
A Prayer for This Week
Thank You, Heavenly Father, for taking away our shame. We are so grateful that we can come to You in prayer, not worrying about You condemning us, but knowing that You are faithful, and that You promise to save all who trust in You. Help us to believe when we are saddled with doubt. Help us to turn from our sin and shame and look to the cross of Jesus where we find hope and deliverance. In the holy and precious name of Jesus, we pray, Amen.