The Problem with Fig Leaves

"Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin coverings" (Genesis 3:7)

God has a real problem with fig leaves, beloved! How many of you have ever taken time to note what happened immediately after Adam and Eve sewed fig leaves together to make loin coverings for themselves to hide the stark reality and shame of their nakedness? Do you recall the statement about their innocence recorded in the closing verse of the second chapter?

"And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed" (v.25)

But as soon as they disobeyed God and ate of the forbidden tree, that wonderful innocence was lost to them and they became acutely aware of their guilt and their shame became centered in their nakedness before God and one another. Quickly sewing fig leaves together to form crude aprons, they covered their sexuality and just as quickly ducked in among the trees to hide themselves from God.

In the actions of those first parents, beloved, we discover fallen human nature gloriously displayed for all to see. Take first the fact that they tried to hide from God. Sinful man has been hiding from holy God ever since! Do you recall what the Apostle John recorded in the third chapter of his Gospel?

"For everyone who does evil hates the Light, and does not come to the Light for fear that his deeds will be exposed" (John 3:20)

The second thing that Adam and Eve did was to try to "cover up" their guilt and shame with something their hands had made. I once heard someone define "religion" as man's attempt to reach out to whatever his own concept of God might be. That's a pretty good definition! As stated, all of the organized religions of the world amount to nothing more than "fig leaves" before God. They are man's attempt to hide his true need from God, to earn God's favor by his own merits, to appease God's offended holiness by any and every means possible.

But did you notice what God did with the fig leaf aprons that Adam and Eve had made and with which they had adorned themselves?

"The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife, and clothed them" (Genesis 3:21)

Pay very close attention to the term "garments of skin." What kind of "skin" did God harvest from which those garments could be made? The only choice He had was the hides of some of the animals of the garden. In other words, blood had to be shed...something had to die in order for the sin of Adam and Eve to be properly covered. And when God slew those animals that day, beloved, He took the first historical step toward an old rugged cross and the final sacrificial Lamb that would ever have to die for anyone's sins. You see, there is a problem with "fig leaves," with any and all of man's attempts to make himself acceptable unto God. And one day fallen man will realize that truth, but it will be too late!

"Many will say to Me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?' And then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness'" (Matthew 7:22-23)

Prophecy? Casting out demons? Miracles? Nothing but "fig leaves," beloved! Just like church membership and baptism and money in the offering plate - if that is how we are attempting to make ourselves acceptable unto God. It didn't work for Adam and Eve and it won't work for us today.

Redemption is God's gift to us, beloved, not our gift to Him. Redemption must be God's idea, not ours. And redemption always requires a sacrifice. But God loves us so much that He was willing to make that sacrifice Himself in the person of His Son, Jesus Christ. He was willing to become sin for us that we might become the righteousness of God in Him (1 Corinthians 5:21). Or to put it in keeping with our theme here, He was willing to strip away the "fig leaf aprons" of our own righteousness and clothe us in the righteousness of Jesus Christ. Forget the fig leaves, beloved. The Lamb's garments are ready for us to receive and wear for all eternity! Praise God for such a glorious salvation!

Ron