Before the Cover-Up

If you are like me, you have probably read Genesis 2:25 more times than you can remember. It may very well be that, like me, you’ve never given much consideration to some of the implications of that verse.

After we read about the creation of both Adam and Eve we read the following words:

And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed (Gen. 2:25).

As we read the very next verse in God’s Word (Gen. 3:1), we are reading the sad account of how sin entered into the world. In that same chapter, we also read about the first attempted “cover-up” of sin.

After the first couple had disobeyed God, we read:

Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked.

And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths (Gen.3:7).

What was lost because of their actions? 

It is obvious that the close relationship they had previously enjoyed with God was severely damaged because of their disobedience. It is also obvious that they also forfeited their rights to continue to live in the Garden of Eden and to have access to the tree of life.

Something else was lost. It is that “something” that still plagues the descendants of Adam and Eve today. 

As we read the last verse of Genesis 2, we are reading a description of two people who were able to see each other as they really were and to be seen as they really were. Nothing was hidden. As soon as sin entered the picture, the cover-up began.

Is that not still true of us? 

I’m not merely thinking about how we cover ourselves physically. Admittedly some, including those who refer to themselves as Christians, could do a lot better job of that. What I’m thinking about is how our inability to be “naked and unashamed” affects other aspects of our lives.

Do we really want the people around us (including our families) to see the “real us?” Do we “cover-up” some things in an attempt to present to others a better picture of ourselves than what really is the case? What we are covering up may not necessarily be sinful. The things we may be attempting to cover up may be personality traits, habits, etc. that we are unwilling to have totally exposed to others.

What about the other side of that coin? Do we really want to see others for what they really are? Are we afraid that we might detect something that would make us think less of them? Are we afraid that we might detect something that would make us think more of them? Would we prefer to allow them to “cover-up” certain things about their lives and/or to cover our eyes to some things about them?

Before the cover-up, there was absolute physical openness and honesty. Adam and Eve were naked.

Before the cover-up, there was absolute emotional openness and honesty. Adam and Eve were unashamed.

Before the cover-up, there was absolute spiritual openness and honesty. We can only try to imagine the kind of relationship with God that was experienced by Adam and Eve before they covered themselves and attempted to hide from Him.

There is a longing within us to try to recapture the innocence that existed long ago. We will be at least somewhat successful in that endeavor if we are honest, open, and courageous enough to refuse to participate in a personal cover-up.

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AUTHOR: Jim Faughn