Behold, I have taken your iniquity away from you, and I will clothe you with pure vestments.

Zechariah 3:4b

Just a few steps down from our home there are a couple of large fig trees, in our neighbor's garden. In five years, those trees have grown to an enormous size, giving shade and delicious fruit.

The leaves are large. A fig leaf can grow to over a foot wide. I can imagine why Adam and Eve looked around and seeing these nice big leaves, chose them for covering. Look under the tree, though and see the leaves that have fallen and dried. Yes, those are the same leaves three days later, you haven't mistaken them. They are puny little dried brown-gray things, curled up the size of your fist.

I could have given Adam some advice there in the garden. "Uh, Adam, just so you know, in a couple of days you're going to have a little problem there."

Humour aside, this incident in the garden of Eden was one of the most gut-wrenching and tragic events in history. It was the first act of rebellion, and subsequent shame and a pathetic attempt at self-covering. Even covered with their fig leaf loincloths, Adam and Eve hid themselves from God's presence.

And from that day to this, we've been sinning, covering our be-hinds, and running from God's presence.

BUT! "The LORD God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skin and clothed them." (Gen. 3:21). The LORD God provided for them clothing, covering! Fig leaves shrink, shrivel and crumble away, but leather is a different story! It could last a lifetime!

God's covering of our sin and shame is only one facet of the beautiful diamond of His salvation, but it is an important one.

Listen real closely... You cannot cover yourself. You cannot hide your sin and your shame. Only God can. First you acknowledge it, both to Him and whoever else has the right to know. Then He deals with it (He did that long ago). And then He tenderly provides you with a new garment, one made to last. This is the awesome and beautiful Truth that foils what the enemy did long ago in Eden.

READ: Psalm 32: "Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered." (Now read the rest, slowly, and meditate on it.)

Lord, I come to You today without excuse. I blame no one else for my actions and for the wrong I have done, I take full responsibility. Oh, Lord, hear, Oh, Lord forgive! And clothe me as you wish, covering my shame and fitting me for Your presence. I don't ever want to avoid You again.