So he said, “I heard Your voice in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; and I hid myself.” – Genesis 3:10
Adam said he was afraid because he was naked, and so he hid himself.
And yet, Adam was always naked.
The difference this time was that Adam felt ashamed of his nakedness.
For the first time since he was created, suddenly, simply being himself was not okay.
Why?
Because he’d disconnected himself from his Creator, the One Person in the entire Universe who knew him completely and loved him unconditionally.
So he hid himself. So he stitched together some fig leaves to cover himself. So he fled from the sound of his Maker in the cool of the evening…and passed the same dis-eased condition on to his descendants.
Even now, anytime you dare to expose who you really are, here comes shame and fear to remind you of all the reasons why you isn’t enough.
They show up to point out your flaws, highlight your insecurities, recap your inadequacies, and reinforce feelings of low self-esteem and low self-worth.
Because they know that Paradise is the place where you get to be naked without feeling shame.
And they know that the true gift of Eternal life that Jesus gave you, is a reconnection to your Source.
Which means you get to be naked without being ashamed. You get to be your true self without condemnation. In fact, you get to be you with the full approval and celebration of the One who made you.
Feelings may still show up. Will show up. But they no longer have power or authority over you.
So dare to be naked. Show your true colours. And defiantly enjoy the abundant life of living reconnected to your Maker.