Michael continues that the
devil always shows the bait but hides the hook. When Adam and Eve disobeyed and
their eyes were open to evil, they were both ashamed according to 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” Shame
and guilt is the first consequence of sin. Shame is connected with nakedness
according to scripture. Jeremiah wrote “you
are unashamed of your sin. You don’t even know how to blush.” When the
culture is no longer ashamed of their sin, the culture is doomed to fall. The
word of God says, “abhor that which is
evil, cleave unto that which is good.” When a man or woman of God walks
according to the Spirit and not the flesh, sin becomes repulsive. First and
foremost, sin is against our just and holy God.
The scripture says, cursed are they who call good evil and evil
good. However, blessed are they who look ahead and pursue the crown of
righteousness. Paul said, I have fought
the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith; and there is
laid up for me a crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous judge,
shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love
his appearing.
Why do we attend church? We
have been called to the church of the body of Christ to comfort, exhort, and
edify … to build each other up. It is a fact that we’re most like the ones with
whom we spend the most time. The question is, “Who are your twelve and who are
your three of your inner circle?” We’ve been called to follow after other men and
women who are chasing after their Lord Jesus Christ. The church is the “called
out” of God. Why go to church? I’m here to worship the Lord together; because
you’re here … You make me want to be a better Christian disciple and kingdom
worker for the glory of God.
Genesis 3:8 gives us the result of guilt and shame: “And they heard the voice of the Lord God
walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid
themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”
Sin separates us from God. Overcoming sin means to run “to God”, instead of “from
God”. God will bring across our path godly men and women when we need to be
reproved and put on the “right” path. When King David had sinned with
Bathsheba, the prophet Nathan told David a story about a man in his kingdom who
was an adulterer, a cheat, a thief and a murderer. When David told the prophet,
“the man who did this thing must die,” Nathan replied, “You are the man.” There
is no secret sin in heaven. Your sin will find you out. Thank God for godly men
and women who will confront us about our sin. The Word of God is profitable for doctrine, reproof, and correction.
Correction means to restore to an upright position.
In Genesis 3:9, even though Adam and Eve hid from God, God in His
mercy and grace pursued them: “And the
LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” God knew
exactly where they were. God asked Adam a diagnostic question: Where is your
heart? Why is your heart separated from my heart? Adam answered in verse 10: “And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because
I was naked; and I hid myself.” Sin, guilt and shame, and the fear of a
holy God will separate our hearts from God.
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