Pastor's Article 02-15-26

Have you ever felt vulnerable or naked before God? So dirty that you couldn’t stand the idea of facing the LORD and giving an account of the wrong that you had done? This is how Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, felt after they sinned in the Garden of Eden. According to the Bible, they regularly walked with God and enjoyed His company until they ate the forbidden fruit; afterward, the Bible says they hid from Him. The story continues with the Bible describing how they realized their nakedness and made coverings out of fig leaves. This is a familiar pattern—trying everything possible to address one’s shame or guilt, only to find that these efforts fall short. Consider how often you have tried to hide your own guilt or mistakes by taking similar actions. Sometimes people start going to church, not to get right with God, but to cover up the fact that they are out of God’s will. It seems that religion is often man’s first attempt at covering his nakedness. As it was with Adam and Eve, man still has a guilty and naked awareness in his life, and therefore hides from the very God whom he had been accustomed to having sweet fellowship with. I recall the biblical passage in which God calls out to Adam, asking, “Adam, where art thou?” (Genesis 3:9) This moment resonates with me, as I reflect on how God's call prompted me to evaluate the status of my own relationship with Him. I attempted to achieve moral alignment through religious practices and good deeds; however, genuine reconciliation was only attained when I acknowledged my mistakes openly and admitted wrongdoing. It was only then I understood I couldn't conceal my sin, but God was ready to forgive me through His sacrifice. Jesus, as the perfect Lamb of God, was the sole sufficient offering to restore my relationship with God. Where do you stand today? God prompted me to ask you.
Pastor,
Rev. Wayne Marcus