Hiding Behind Fig Leaves - Martin Wiles

So they strung fig leaves together around their hips to cover themselves. Genesis 3:7 NLT

Young children can hide in the craziest places.

“Levi, do you want to play Hide-n-Seek with Pop?”

“Okay.”

“You hide, and Pop will find you.”

 I sat in my recliner. He scampered off for the kitchen.

“Ready or not, here I come,” I call as I head to where I know he is.

I find him standing in the middle of the kitchen floor with only his hands over his eyes. In his young mind, he thought that action would keep me from seeing him.

Seems silly, but we adults don’t do much of a better job trying to hide from God. God placed Adam and Eve in a pristine environment with everything they could ever want at their fingertips. But they weren’t satisfied. Fruit from the one tree God said was off-limits lured them. A slithering serpent (Satan) provided the enticement, but they still had the power to say “No.”

After they had done the deed, they experienced an emotion they’d never felt before: shame. They had violated God’s express command and attempted to cover the guilt by sewing together fig leaves. But, they soon discovered leaves couldn’t keep God from seeing them any more than my grandson’s hands could keep me from observing him.

Fast forward a few thousand years, and we find religious leaders attempting to cover their guilt too . . . but with different things. They tried to hide behind a façade of good works. Jesus told them they were just white-washed tombs full of dead bones. He could see beneath their outside.

I’ve sewn a few sets of fig leaves myself. They may have consisted of good works, community organizations, beneficial relationships, or positions in my local church.

Yet, none of the above—or anything else—can erase feelings of guilt. There are just not enough fig leaves. True guilt comes when God’s commands are violated or we have ignored him. Christ has paid for whatever we’ve done, and confession—not fig leaves—will alleviate the guilt. We can’t work to repay what we couldn’t buy in the first place, nor can we ever be good enough to place God under obligation to us. All He requires is heartfelt sorrow.

Come up with a plan of action for when you feel guilt.

Father, I give my guilt to you. I realize only the blood of Christ can cover it. 

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