Naked and Not Ashamed, Part Ii

Yesterday we began talking about the scripture, “and they were naked and not ashamed” from Genesis 2. This semester I am teaching a class on Human Development and it is bringing many things to my understanding as to why we function as we do as adults.

Many of our fears and emotional feelings begin before we are really conscious of them. We react to things as adults based on experiences we had as children that we cannot even remember. It is because of this fact that I appreciate the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ even the more. For the message of the gospel includes a new birth – not based on what you can do for yourself, but what God will do for you because of Jesus!

The gospel is the only message proclaiming::

Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.
2 Coriinthians 5:17(KJV)

This tells me that whatever we were, whatever we experienced B.C. (before Christ), it will become new if we are iIN Christ!

When two people come together, they come with genetic make-ups that are different, backgrounds that are different, life experiences that are different. As one of my old pastors used to say “two people are never going to agree all the time with each other, unless one of them is a dummy” (you would have to know him to appreciate this statement-mother wit was his specialty). The truth is – marriage is not the easiest institution by any standards.

And yet, as we see in Genesis 2, God designed it, commends it for His people, (“it is not good for man to be alone”), and depends upon it for the procreation of mankind (“be fruitful and multiply and replenish the earth”). So this tells me that marriage is not only a good thing, it can be a great thing!

It takes work, it takes prayer, it takes two people who have become one flesh to become one with the God who loves them both:

8There is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet is there no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither saith he, For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This is also vanity, yea, it is a sore travail.

9Two are better than one; because they have a good reward for their labour.

10For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when he falleth; for he hath not another to help him up.

11Again, if two lie together, then they have heat: but how can one be warm alone?

12And if one prevail against him, two shall withstand him; and a threefold cord is not quickly broken.Ecclesiastes 4:8-12 (KJV)

God Bless You,
Maria