BY PASTOR DAVID ODOM
In Genesis chapter 3 we read in the Bible about Adam and Eve resting and enjoying the Garden of Eden. They had anything and everything that they could ever want or need right there in the garden: no worries, no cares, no problems, no shame. Only one restriction was mentioned in the garden, and that was not to eat the fruit from the tree of knowledge of good and evil or they shall surely die. One day the old serpent comes by and whispers in their ear that they wouldn’t die if they were to eat of the fruit and they would be more like God. Of course, from here most of us know the story. They both eat from the tree and BAM! Both of them die, right? No. Not a physical death, but spiritually they began to die. All of a sudden their innocence, pureness, holiness has been compromised by a seemingly small decision to disobey God. The Bible says they sewed fig leaves together to make themselves an apron to hide their nakedness from each other and from God.
One moment they were carefree in paradise enjoying the presence of God and the next moment they were exposed, worried, and running from the presence of God. We like to look back and blame them for all of our problems, but we have all messed up and disobeyed God. We are all hiding behind something that hides us from the presence of God. What’s your fig leaf? Many people hide behind their jobs and careers, hide behind their past and their failures, and sometimes we hide behind our fears and complacency. But just like Adam and Eve we can’t hide from the presence of an almighty God. We run and hide like we saw our worst enemy coming down the aisle at the local Wal-Mart and we try to make a quick turn and run in the opposite direction. But in verses 9 and 10 of that same chapter God actually went searching for Adam and Eve — even in the middle of their shame and regret, and all the disobedience. What a beautiful picture that God comes looking for us when we are at our worst, even when we failed him and try to hide. God still desires a relationship with each and every one of us.
All throughout the Bible many of the most influential people had their own fig leafs that they hid behind. Moses tried to hide behind his speech problems, Paul tried to hide because of his past of persecuting Christians, David hid behind his failures while being King, and Peter tried to hide behind his denial of Jesus, not once but three times. But God used each one of them in a mighty way. Maybe you’re hiding behind a fig leaf that keeps you from serving God or having a close relationship with our creator. Maybe you’re hiding from a calling on your life like preaching, teaching, singing, being a prayer warrior, or maybe God has called you to be a missionary. No matter what, you can’t hide from God. Somewhere along the way we as Christians have eaten the fruit that the old devil has fed us and we don’t think that we are good enough, we think our past is too bad, or we let our fear overcome us. But God comes searching for you because he loves you, you are good enough, and he has a specific plan for your life. Jeremiah 29:11 says: For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Eating that fruit will cause sin in our life and sin will cause us many problems along the way if we don’t get rid of it.
Sin will destroy our relationship with God. You will lose that close relationship with the Father.
Sin will destroy your ability to reason without being selfish or without sinful motives.
Sin introduces new distractions that take your attention away from God.
No matter what fig leaf you’re hiding behind don’t run from the presence of God. When he comes to find you, answer him. He longs for a relationship with you no matter your past or your current circumstances. If you let him in your heart he will change you for the best.
(The Solution Column is provided weekly by Pastor Brandon Young of Harmony Free Will Baptist Church and his associate, David Odom.)