One thing that we all have experienced in some form or
fashion in our lives is shame. Shame as a result either of something that we
have done or maybe on account of something that has been done to us. This shame
causes us to be fearful of what others may think of us and ultimately how God
Himself may see us. Such shame can be paralyzing leading us not to form any
close friendships or to constantly be worried about what will happen if our
current friend discovers our hidden past. Will they still like us? Would that
lead to their rejection? Should I even take such a risk? Shame can even keep us
from going out of our house at times due to the fear that we will be exposed
and humiliated. What can we do about such shame in our lives? How can we move
past the feelings of shame that pretty much dominate and control us? This
month, I want to explore the nature of shame with you as well as the good news
that we have a God who covers our shame through His Son’s perfect sacrifice.
The Bible actually has a lot to say about shame. This
really shouldn’t be surprising since it is such a major issue in our lives. We
are told that originally with Adam and Eve that they were both naked and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:25). They had no
reason to be fearful before God or one another. Neither one of them had done
anything to be ashamed of. However, all of that changed when they both ate of
the fruit of the tree God explicitly commanded them not to. Moses informs us
that in the moment they disobeyed God that their eyes were opened and they were
aware of the fact that they were naked (Genesis 3:7). Shame over their sin
quickly set in. When God came to them, they went into hiding. They did not want
to be seen by their holy God and face up to what they had done. To be exposed
for the sinners that they now are. They probably felt dirty. Unclean.
Humiliated. Yearning desperately to be covered.
And the couple did attempt to cover themselves up by
making clothes out of fig leaves. But this obviously didn’t do the trick since
they still hid from God. Their own efforts could not cover up their shame. How
often do we likewise try to conceal our shame ourselves? Seeking to do as much
good deeds as we possibly can, hoping that they may make up for the wrongs that
we have done. Or devoting ourselves to religious service, again thinking that
this might hide our shame from God and from others. But it never works, does
it? The shame is still there. As much as you work to cover it, you continue to
fear being exposed. You just can’t hide it. We are in need of someone else to
cover us.
The good news is that we do indeed have Someone who
can, and does for His children, cover the shame of sin. God didn’t leave Adam
and Eve in their shameful condition. Instead, He comes to them and He covers
their nakedness and shame with the skin of an animal that was innocent of their
sins (Genesis 3:21). While they deserved to die on the spot on account of their
sin, God killed the innocent animal in their place so that they could live and
have the shame which resulted from their sin covered. This clearly is a picture
of God’s putting to death His sinless Son in the place of repentant sinners.
Where the penalty that they deserved on account of their sin was given to the
Lord Jesus Christ instead, freeing them from a fear of punishment. Where God
has declared the guilty innocent since He treated His innocent Son as guilty of
their sins, freeing us from the need to feel ashamed before God. If you are in
Christ, God no longer sees you for the sinner that you are but as righteous as
His Son is. He has clothed you with His righteousness. It is like having the
word “SINNER” stamped on your chest in big black bold letters but being given a
pure white coat that says “THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST” and putting that on.
Though the word “SINNER” can still be found on your chest, it is not seen by
God because the coat with “THE RIGHTEOUSNESS OF CHRIST” covers it. The animal
skins covering up the shame of Adam and Eve’s nakedness ultimately point us to
Christ’s righteousness covering up our sin and shame.
We find another picture of God’s covering the
believer’s shame in Zechariah 3:1-5 with Joshua the high priest. Satan is
accusing him before God and the priest is clothed with filthy garments,
probably representing his many sins that his life has been stained with. There
more likely is a sense of shame for Joshua as he hears the devil pointing out
his sin to the Lord while he stands there in his filthiness with nothing to say
in his own defense. Yet we find the Angel of the Lord having his filthy
garments removed and replacing them with rich clothes. God likewise removes the
believer’s filthy sinful garments and replaces them with the righteous robes of
His Son.
So when you struggle with shame over something that
you have done, look to Christ to wash your dirty robes white with purity in His
blood (Revelation 7:14). Find your covering in Him and what He has done rather
than trying to cover yourself by what you do. Remind yourself continually that you
have been covered by His blood and righteousness. There is no more reason to be
ashamed.
Love
in Christ,
Lee
