It all started with a fig leaf.

It was literally the first (and maybe worst) cover up in the history of the world. Genesis 3:7 records that Adam and Eve, after falling into sin in the Garden of Eden, “...sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loin clothes”. In an attempt to cover their shame and nakedness, they were forced to try and cover up with a fig leaf.

Of course, this is our response to our own sin as well, isn’t it? Rather than expose our faults and failures to the world we hide and cover up lest everyone else comes to know for sure that we are, indeed, sinners. We delete our browser history, look for scapegoats to blame, come up with excuse after excuse. Day after day we hide behind these flimsy fig leaves, hoping that no one will come to know the truth of who we really are.

But reading further in the Genesis account we find God doing something remarkable. Though God curses Adam, Eve, the serpent, and the whole of creation, Genesis 3:21 says, “And the Lord God made for Adam and for his wife garments of skins and clothed them”. Not often do we contemplate the implications of this single verse. But in order to cover the sin and shame of Adam and Eve, God had to shed blood. He had to take the life of an innocent creature in order to cover the guilt of another.

Of course this is just a shadow of what God has done for us in Christ. Jesus himself was exposed so that your sins could be covered. “When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they took his garments and divided them into four parts…” (John 19:23). There on the cross, Jesus was naked and alone. Innocent, yet taking on our guilt. All this He did in order to hide in Himself our shame and guilt.

He was exposed so that you might be covered.

If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory (Colossians 3:1-4)