Key Passage: Job 31: 33, 40; Proverbs 28:13

“If I have covered my transgressions as Adam, By hiding my iniquity in my bosom, then let thistles grow instead of wheat, And weeds instead of barley.”
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, but whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”

It is in the nature of the fallen man to hide from God and attempt to cover his nakedness. That is foolishness, because nothing can be hidden from His sight. Our relationship with God must be based on openness, sincerity and trust or there is no relationship. Even when we fail God, we need not hide from Him, but return to Him in true repentance and seek for His mercy.

I remember that when we were young and unconverted, we used to tip toe to sneak out of the house and beat the careful eyes of our parents. We thought we were smart. But no one can play that game with God. He is Omniscient. He is like a surgeon who cuts through a patient. He needs the patient to be naked, unafraid and unashamed to operate on him.

Adam could not hide his sins from God; he only hid himself. God did not seek to find him; He saw him and his deeds. But Adam was lost. He covered his nakedness with fig leaves because he was afraid and ashamed.

When a man hides from God, he is lost. Then, God’s love and mercy cannot reach him; but God’s punishment does. When He covers his transgression, then, God cannot cover him. What Adam should have done was to come out before God naked, unafraid and unashamed, so that God would cover him. He rather covered his sin and was therefore not forgiven, but condemned, cursed and cast away.

God’s love for man is incomparable. Though He hates sin, He is always ready to forgive if one truly repents. But everyone must be ready to take responsibility for his sins and consciously repent in order to be forgiven. David said, “My sin is always before me” Ps 51:3. When we take responsibility for our sin, we are convicted and we feel deeply sorry for our failure. Then are we able to lay naked, unafraid and unashamed on the arms of our Father and Maker and let him have mercy on us and clothe us.

Pray: Lord, I lay myself bare before you; have mercy on me. Forgive me for all my transgressions and wash me clean with the precious blood of your Son, Jesus.

Written by – Evangelist Oguazi Onyemobi