Naked

Naked.

That’s what you and I are without the Glory of God.

The Glory of God with which Adam and Eve were once adorned.

Have you ever wondered what Adam and Eve looked like?

Mankind has been worried about their self image for a long time; I’d guess for around 6,000 years. They weren’t created to be self absorbed or self conscious, but things happen.

At one time, while they still had access to their Garden, all Adam and Eve could see was the beauty of God’s handiwork. Besides the trees, flowers, birds and animals, they saw the glory of God emanating from one another.

Adam had freedom to walk with God, and to understand what God showed him. I believe Adam steadily increased in wisdom and glory, from one degree to another. With unveiled face, beholding the glory of God not only as he looked at God, but when he gazed upon his wife’s beauty.

It’s the glory of God shining through someone’s life that makes them beautiful. Without it, all there is to see is flesh, hair, and paint.

“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us.” (2 Corinthians 4:6-7 ESV)

There was a light that shone out of them; the brilliance of God pouring out of their inner most being. Out of their heart flowed the forces of life (Proverbs 4:23). Their heart, or spirit, was the candle of the Lord. In His light, they saw light.

Picture Adam and Eve, created in the image and exact likeness of God, with rays shooting from their fingertips.

“God came from Teman, and the Holy One from Mount Paran. His splendor covered the heavens, and the earth was full of his praise. His brightness was like the light; rays flashed from his hand; and there he veiled his power.” (Habakkuk 3:3-4 ESV)

No wonder they never realized they were naked; because, in all actuality, they weren’t. They were endued, clothed, with power from on high!

The Glory of God!

In the Garden, Adam and Eve, clothed in glory, allowed their light to be snuffed out through disobedience. Now they could see what skin looked like without glory. They experienced the truth of God’s word when He told them, “don’t eat, lest you die.” They couldn’t explain it, but they knew things weren’t the same.

Naked people cannot know spiritual things.

Their covering of Glory was replaced with a loincloth of shame. Boldness and confidence in their God was trampled by the force of doubt and fear. Their life of “Shalom” turned into chaos, jealousy, rebellion, and murder.

And man began to be absorbed with his own self importance. As “Self” was lifted up to new heights, the worship of man and the religion of humanism was born.

But if any person be in Christ, they become a new creation; old things pass away (2 Corinthians 5:17). The power of God begins recreating and restoring His Glory within the life of the believer.

“To them God willed to make known what are the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles: which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Him we preach, warning every man and teaching every man in all wisdom, that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus. To this end I also labor, striving according to His working which works in me mightily.” (Colossians 1:27-29 NKJV)

The life truly submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ will display the Glory of God.

And nakedness will once again be covered.