Sin and Shame Exposed

Something happened recently that really broke my heart. I found out an an friend from any years ago got caught up in serious criminal activity and faced the full force of the law.

It was everywhere, the papers, blogs etc. All the indiscretions exposed. Obviously where all of you is being exposed, the vultures come out. The comments from some people including former friends and acquaintance of the individual concerned got to me, some were propellers of this story and even some very ridiculous rumours were born.

I, on the other hand, felt compassion, not because I feel the law or media was being unfair,  but because it had me thinking of how much shame Jesus has shielded me from. It reminded me to thank God for the blood of Jesus.

Imagine if all our former indiscretions were being exposed for all to see. Or every sin we've ever committed or about to commit is played in the media. It made me realise how much the blood of Jesus that was shed means. When God sees us, he does not see the former adulterer, fornicator, thief, murderer, slanderer, liar, gossip, idol worshiper but sees Jesus. The grace that was given through Jesus now covers our shame. Isn't God wonderful?

The way the courtroom plays on earth is not any different from how it plays out in heaven. There is a judge, the advocate, alleged offender and the accuser.  Revelations 12:10 describes Satan as the accuser of brethren, Zechariah 3:1-2 tells us that Satan stands by ready to let us know what we have done wrong. The judge, God the Father, listens to the case as a judge ought to, Jesus our Saviour will come out to be our advocate and because God honours His word that Jesus saves, we will be speared, every record wiped off because Jesus has spoken.

So, when we are about to give someone else the side eye about their indiscretions, we should remember that we are also sinners (Romans 3:23) and by the blood of Christ we have been set free from accusations of Satan (John 8:36). Sin is sin before God, so because your sin has not broken the law of the land does not mean that the accuser in the heavenlies is not ready to drag us to the court of God.

It will take nothing for God to expose us it the public but because of mercy He has chosen to hide our nakedness, Genesis 3:21 gives a perfect example of this. It tells us that after Adam and Eve disobeyed, their eyes were opened and they realised they were naked, they felt ashamed. Despite this, God in his infinite, merciful self covered them up.

So, lets pray for one another irrespective of what kind past or present we have, let us thank God everyday for hiding our sin and shame, let us remember plead for mercy over our life and life of others. In prayer, we should also ask God to help us to put on His full amour so that we may be able to withstand the schemes of Satan (Ephesians 6:11).

“But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved — and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”   Ephesians 2:4-7

IN THE BEGINNING......

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth Genesis 1:1

The story of the beginning is etched in the memory of all followers of Christ. It reveals the intention of the Creator for us as mankind. What is this intention you ask? Well...to create!

Remember in this same chapter God tells that man (this includes woman of course) was created in His image. This means that we are the very image of God, created to be in His likeness Genesis 1:26-27. 

My question is if God created us in His very own image and went one step further to then make us in His own likeness, don't we ought to manifest this in our daily lives? I'd like to answer yes to this question BUT it is not the case. 

As a human, and I am sure we can all relate to this, I do not always walk in God's true and perfect intention for me which is due to a number of reasons e.g fear, worries of life and sometimes just utter disobedience. 

When life is not going in the direction we hoped for, we forget that we are God's own image and if God is the Creator, guess what? We are also creators! God has given us dominion over this world so we too can create better situations for ourselves. God did it when the earth was formless and void, He simply said let there be light and there it was, LIGHT! Genesis 1.:3

I've wanted to do this blog thing for a while now but I just always thought, I am not good enough, no time and the ultimate excuse of them all, no one will read it! Now as I write, I am in a place where I have decided to create light in the midst of my fear and worries of rejection. Maybe no one will read this post but I'd never know until I create something to give people a chance to read.  

That is what God did when he created this earth, He simply created a conducive place where living organisms can thrive. He has set an example for us as His creator that we ought to follow.

So guys, let's all go forth and create conducive situations where our loved ones, ideas, body, soul and mind, can all thrive in. 

Naomi xoxo

For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7