My red electronic alarm clock went off for the third time. I heard my mom screaming from downstairs that the bus was almost at our stop. I jumped out of bed, grabbed my backpack and took off for the bus.
I ignored the stares and comments. I was barely functioning, so why did they care that I had brought my blanket with me onto the bus? I needed a few more minutes of sleep before school began.
Before I walked into class, I needed to use the bathroom. So I pushed open the door and dropped my blanket. As I went to unzip my pants, I noticed something odd about my outfit... there wasn't one.
I showed up to school naked.
I can't be the only one who has had a dream where they were naked at school. Some of you are probably thinking to yourself: Thank goodness that was a dream. Others are probably thinking: I wouldn't put it past him to show up naked. Either way, I am as grateful as you are that this never actually happened except during a dream here and there.
However, I am reminded of this disturbing dreamality (dream that feels like a reality... yes I just made this up) as I was reading through Genesis 3 this morning.
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 (Genesis 3:7, NIV).
Long story short, Adam & Eve ate a fruit in the garden that God told them not to eat. It opened their eyes and they were aware of their nakedness-- they were aware of their sin. This verse has always stuck out to me, especially when connected to its predecessor in chapter 2 verse 25: "Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame."
It wasn't until their sin was exposed that their nakedness became a bad thing. Nakedness in its purest form = Holy.
Nakedness as a result of sin leads to shame OR conviction. Because Adam and Eve turned to shame rather than conviction, they ran and hid. As you read through the story of Adam and Eve, it's so crazy that neither of them repented of their sin. Both of them chose to make excuses rather than improvements (cheesy... I know). Yet, how often do I do the same thing?
How often do you do the same thing?
Double ouch.
God invites us into a pure relationship with Him. However, that relationship doesn't mean we get off scotch-free. If we are truly pursuing a relationship with God, our actions should lead us towards conviction and redemption. God wants our nakedness to be a pure thing, not one filled with shame and sin. In order to achieve this, our sin must be brought to light.
Now I am not saying you must post your greatest sins and mistakes on Facebook for all to see. Instead, I am calling all of us to bring forward our shame to God and ask for Him to convict us and walk with us on the journey towards redemption. When our sin is exposed and repented of, our pure nakedness shines through... just as Christ intended.
If you are ready to take a next step towards pure nakedness with God, pray this prayer with me: God, I have fallen short in so many ways. I bring forward all of my sin and all of my shame. I ask that you forgive me and convict me to lead a better life than I did yesterday. I ask that you place on my heart every area I need to present before you. I ask that you walk with me and give me opportunities to love you and love others. Thank you God for always loving me.
Let me know if there is any way I can pray for you today.
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