Covered by God

Genesis 3:21 ~ "And the LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them."

At the very outset of our rebellion against Almighty God, the two creatures formed from the dust of the earth forsook their love for God and chose, rather, love for self. At that moment the LORD might have immediately struck them dead. The pinnacle of creation became the progenitors of sin. And that sinful condition now would be passed along through the generations to follow. Mankind's innocence was soiled in wickedness and only God Himself could provide the remedy for humanity.

So, why didn't God eradicate the race? Did God have a need for man to exist? I've heard it said that God was lonely and wanted company. There are not many more foolish statements made than that! God created angelic beings who hold court before Him, ever rejoicing in His presence. God is Triune--Father, Son and Holy Spirit. He is within His own sphere of fellowship and is, by His own nature, never alone. God does not need mankind; God needs nothing at all. 

Why didn't God destroy humanity? Because God, in His perfection, is merciful. Tremble, dear ones, at the very nature of Almighty God. Every attribute of the LORD is always in perfection--His justice, righteousness, holiness, and all other qualities of the nature of God are absolute and His wrath is perfect as well. But God is also perfect in love, grace, mercy, kindness and gentleness. And so the first act of the Divine Creator after the curse was to cover the man and his wife with clothes. He did not first send them out of paradise, which was just. He clothed them with garments of skins, which was merciful. Consider Psalm 86:15, "But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness." 

Adam and Eve attempted to cover themselves. "Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths" (Genesis 3:7). The man and woman tried to hide from the LORD. "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" (Genesis 3:8). And this is mankind's response still today. We want to hide our shame and sin, and with worldly hands try to fashion some form of covering that will at least conceal our wickedness. Or, when that fails, we try to hide ourselves from the One who created us, running for cover lest we be found out and it be exposed that we are sinners. The fig leaves of human effort are of no value and hiding will never work. Isaiah 64:6 says, "We have all become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous deeds are like a polluted garment."

But God is tender and compassionate and He will cover our sin and shame. And, my dear friends, if you find yourself hiding from the LORD God because of your sin, cry out to Him for He is more gracious than you are wicked. He will do as He promised and clothe you in garments of righteousness. He will cover you with the blood of Christ who paid the penalty for your sins. Listen to the words of Romans 3:23-24, "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."

Perhaps you're thinking that there may not be enough mercy remaining for you? That, after all these eons, the LORD Almighty has reached the limit of His grace? Let me remind you that God is rich in mercy (see Ephesians 2;4). He has a wealth of mercy stored up for all who call upon the LORD Jesus and trust Him for salvation. He delights to show mercy, and will do, even as He did for the first man and woman. If you trust Him, your sins will be forgiven in Christ and you will be covered by God.

In His Grace,
Pastor Michael

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