Our Feeble Attempt and the Gospel

Do you ever have those moments where you just want to burst out in the Doxolgy? You know, the "Praise God from Whom all blessings flow...". I do. Random, but yes yes I do. It's usually one of those moments where it clicks. The Lord speaks or shows and I understand. It's my form of Hallelujah. We sang it right after our "I dos" for that very reason.

This morning was no different. I have this new Advent book by Ann Voskamp that I am all over. It's Day 3, and I'm all over it. I mean it's like this: I wake up early. Get my snack on. Open my book. Read. Journal. And it's this picture perfect moment, but not really. There's the mismatched PJs and the glasses and the half undo hair and 7:00 in the AM.

I was reading in the devotional book from Genesis 3. This is the Fall of all falls. This is the fall of man. It is the fall that leads to redemption and reconciliation.

And what did Adam and Eve do? They ran and hid. They tried sewing the fig leaves together to make clothing. I was caught in that moment. I realized just how feeble our attempts are at covering up our sin. Can you imagine Adam and Eve working with these measly leaves to provide clothing for their naked bodies and ultimately cover the shame of their disobedience? The leaves might have torn some. They might have had to start on Adam's pants or Eve's skirt several times; their attempts were feeble.

Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so 

they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Gen. 3:7

Our attempts are feeble. The sin in our lives rips us a part. It should. We are created for the glory of God, where no match for sin can stand. And yet instead of turning to Him we run and sew fig leaves of our own. Our fig leaves are our self righteous acts. Our fig leaves are hiding. Our fig leaves are running from the Church. Our fig leaves are continuing in sin.

Yet He gives us more.

The Lord God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them. Gen. 3:21

And here's where my Doxology moment came in. I was thinking about the garments of skin. In God's wisdom, He knew the durability of the animal skins to cover Adam and Eve. A sacrifice was made to cover the shame and guilt of man; the One, True sacrifice was made to cover our shame and guilt. Where Adam and Eve covered their sin in a feeble attempt of clothing by fig leaves, God gave them the strength and covering of animal skin. Where we attempt to cover our sin by hiding and running, God has given us the strength and covering and sacrifice of His Son. The greater clothing that will cover us is His Son and His righteousness. This is the gospel message - no pride, no fear just Jesus.

God and sinners reconciled!

Praise God from Whom all blessings flow! Praise Him all creatures here below!