Covering

Genesis 3: 7 – “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves aprons.⁠”

We recently had our roof replaced on our home. A long overdue home repair, it was nice to have it accomplished and to have one less thing to worry about. The men who did the work were very good at what they do, but I have to admit that during the days they were working on it, I struggled with the idea of them being there. This was the first time in the years of us owning this home that I had someone other than my dad and myself working on the house. I felt useless and uneasy as I listened to the pounding above my head.

When we read this verse the following Sunday during a Bible study, I remembered the helpless feeling I had experienced. The pride that I held onto in my natural frame about something so silly as allowing someone else to work on my home. To put this new roof or we might say a “covering” on it for me. Adam and Eve, and in turn myself, would like to cover our nakedness and our sinfulness on our own. We don’t want anyone to help us. Little kids as we know do the same thing. How many times have we all heard the phrase “I do it” from them.

Adam and Eve used leaves from a tree to try and cover themselves. One can see where we might have the same impulse. To take something that decays and will have to be replaced, necessitating more of the same or an alternative covering. We aren’t far  seeing enough to realize that no matter what we might use to cover ourselves, either physically or spiritually, it will never be enough. More will always be needed. Our good and gracious Father has other plans though.  Plans that would involve the death of his only son. As David wrote in Psalm 85 verse 2, “Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin.” God has covered our sins once and for all and we can rest in the knowledge that there is nothing more we have to do than believe our sins forgiven in Jesus’ name and precious shed blood.

Praise God for his unspeakable mercies towards us in Christ Jesus!

Hans Lampinen

Submitted by Pastor Stan