“Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast… that the Lord God had made.
“He said to the woman, ‘Did God actually say..?’ So the woman… took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate…
“And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, ‘Where are you?’ And he said, ‘I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.’ He said, ‘Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?’ The man said, ‘The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.’ Then the Lord God said to the woman, ‘What is this that you have done?’ The woman said, ‘The serpent deceived me, and I ate.’” Genesis 3:1,2-5,6,8-13
Behind the good command to man, over the deceptive craft of the serpent, God was. And into the shame of the world’s first sinners, God walked. In the most pleasant part of the day He approached their most unpleasant situation, and called to them, eliciting responses that are key to knowing ourselves and prompting genuine repentance.
Our pursuing God confronts us with our transgressions, whether directly or indirectly, through confrontation or inner misery, in order to redeem our fallenness. Once we name the sin and acknowledge our culpability, He brings us to repentance and immediately applies His grace. Guilt is a kindness intended to drive us to restoration, from whence we have freedom. How will we answer His loving probe? (1 Samuel 15:13-14; 2 Samuel 12:1-9, 13; Psalm 32:1-5; Romans 2:4)
Where are you? God beckons us to see where our choices have taken us. Are we ashamed, guilt-riddled, hiding from being known and loved? He patiently draws us out into the light.
Who told you that you were naked? The Lord wants us to discern voices and embrace truth. Have we dismissed His word for more enticing messages from the prince of this world? How has that sin warped our mindset and distorted fellowship with Him?
Have you eaten of the forbidden tree? We must be honest about our sin. Have we or haven’t we transgressed God’s law and failed to honor Him? Fess up, it’s the only way to be free.
What is this that you have done? Do we realize the impact of sin going forward, how it affects every aspect of our work, passions, relationships, countenance, communication? Being fully aware of the gravity of our choices is the key to restoring them.
If all of life is repentance,* do we take it seriously? Failure to seek God’s search light keeps us skimming on life’s surface, spiritually superficial and likely arrogant. Thinking too highly of ourselves prevents us from recognizing our constant need for Jesus. (Revelation 3:15-19)
Worthy Lord, sharpen my conscience to every sinful choice that hides me from You. Expose motive and action to bring about purity and holiness, for the sake of Your honor.
*Martin Luther (1517)