I'm thinking today of Genesis 2 .25, and the
man and his wife were both naked, but they were
not ashamed. Current things that we are concerned
about, like that we're always concerned about,
were not part of the original scene. Clothes,
appearances, danger, worry, regret, living outside
God's plan, of course, sin of any kind, and death.
A lot of things feel like death, but... Even
death actually is death, and it wasn't part of
the original scene. Before the fall, they were
living together, vulnerable, feeling worthy of
each other's love. They had virtually limitless
provision. They had God walking with them in
the coolness of the garden, and they were vulnerable,
but not weak. From here, it might look like uncivilized
or pre -development, but the reality is that
if shame and selfish, wicked behavior come with
those developments, then we don't actually want
them. But it's too late now. Unless God should
deal with them, we are hopelessly stuck. Then
he did deal with them. He did provide rebirth,
spiritual healing, and he conquered shame, sin,
and death. We don't live like we're fallen. We
are now to live alive in him. Our darkest hours
are known, our foolishness, wickedness, our shame,
and he has dealt with it all. While we were yet
sinners, Christ died for us. We live beyond the
veil, behind the curtain, inside the bubble,
and we have already won, though for all practical
appearances, the battle still rages around us.