Heaven will be a place of sublime innocence, of exquisite beauty, of perfect harmony, of grand adventures, of learning and growing, and of intimate communion… much like Eden once was. Indeed, Adam and Eve lived in Heaven on earth … until they rebelled against their Creator.
Suddenly, their innocence was lost. With rebellion came guilt, shame, embarrassment, condemnation, fear, brokenness, and discord.
With these new emotions flooding in like the waters of Niagara, they must have groped for the necessary response. “We can’t hide forever. What can we do to appease the Almighty? What actions must we take to earn our way back into His good graces? How can we reverse the curse?”
They decided to cover their shame. “They knew they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves”(Genesis 3:7).
Religion was born.
But religion doesn’t cut it. It’s never enough. Works don’t work. “Without the shedding of blood there is no forgiveness”(Hebrews 9:22). Mankind can be saved by grace alone, through faith alone, in Jesus alone! Jesus is “the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through” His atoning sacrifice at Calvary (John 14:6).
When the Prodigal returned home, the Father said, “Quick! Bring out the best robe and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet” (Luke 15:22). The best robe… the robe of righteousness.
In the Garden, “the Lord God made clothing from skins for the man and his wife, and he clothed them”(Genesis 3:21). Something became the substitutionary sacrifice. Something had to die. The fur coat covered their nakedness, their shame, their embarrassment, their sin. Lovingly, the Father wrapped them up in His grace.
“… think on these things”(Philippians 4:8, KJV). |
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