ON THE VANGUARD

GET NAKED
“The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame.”
Genesis 2:25

So what did you get for Christmas? A new coat, sweater, or scarf? Did you get that pair of boots you were hoping Santa would bring? How about a nice button down shirt? Perhaps you received a dress, or some casual yet nice looking slacks. Maybe you got a pair of those socks which have a place for each individual toe. Well whatever it is, it’s time to take it off. No, not your physical clothes silly, please keep those on. What I’m referring to is shame.
When Adam and Eve roamed the garden, the Bible tells us that they were naked and knew no shame (Gen 2:25). At this time they were not aware of the effects of sin because they did not know of sin. Only one command had been given to them – to not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. It wasn’t until after they had sinned by eating from this tree that they realized they were naked and needed covering (Gen 3:7).
Now you can’t get more naked than naked, but in both of these verses, the word naked is different. In Genesis 2:25, the word naked is the Hebrew word ‘AROWM which translates into being bare. Adam and Eve were created as naked people. They came into world with nothing; they came bare. This word ‘AROWM is also used in Ecclesiastes 5:15 where Solomon reminds us that as we came into the world bare of anything, so we will leave taking nothing. What we wear on Earth will stay behind. All these things, the toys, and the possessions will not come with us to heaven. This idea reminds me of my grade school days where we learned that the Egyptians would be buried with items that they planned to take into the next life. These earthly possessions never went beyond the grave.
There is a slight difference between the two words, however. The word naked in Genesis 3:7, is the word ‘EYROM which refers to being naked of clothing. While true that we also came into the world physically naked, it is common to be dressed in our Sunday best when we leave. In Ezekiel 16:39, we read prophesy where the people would be striped and left naked. This same act of physical nakedness that would bring shame to the nation was the same nakedness and shame seen by Adam and Eve following their sin.
While I am not suggesting by any means that we strip ourselves of our physical clothes, I am suggesting that we strip ourselves of shame. And shame is just one item of sin’s clothing. We would do well to strip ourselves of guilt, pride, selfishness, lies, and deceit to name but a few. If these sins entangle us, then we should do as the author of Hebrews tells us and strip off the sin that has us bound (Heb 12:1). We cannot run the race for God in the manner of which we are told if we are bound by clothing from the devil’s closet.
It is time that we make the effort to stand naked before God and know no shame, no guilt, and no sins of any kind. Each day is a new day, a new morning, a new entry in the journal of life. Today is the day of God’s salvation, and He wants to save you from the sin that has you bound so that you can stand bare before him. Let’s make the effort of crying out to God for the forgiveness of our sin. Let’s get naked.