Love is beautiful, it’s exhilarating, it’s orgasmic but love is also painful. It hurts. And when it hurts, it hurts deep. Well, two years ago, Mona’s husband had traveled. She felt alone and was craving for some TLC, tender loving care. She met this guy at Walmart, a grocery store. She was looking for some napkins, and he was looking for some utensils. Somehow their eyes met, and in her vulnerability to feel loved and be held, she … she gave him her contact information. She was feeling alone. She had needs as some people would say. Her body was yearning for what she subconsciously knew would be damaging to her soul and her relationship. He called her that evening, came over and… as they were intertwined in the sheets, she heard the front door open. Gripped with fear, she told the Walmart man, “please get under the bed”, and so as he hid, she tried to hurry in the closet to put something on and that’s when her husband opened the bedroom door. He found her naked. She was so ashamed. She tried to play it off but her husband could tell what had just happened. She had betrayed his love, his trust and had broken the relationship they once held dear.
How many times has God found us naked? His bride, his church. You thought I was telling you a story about Mona. No… I was reminding you of our love story with God. We all have sinned and fallen short of His glory. God is our husband and we are His church. Whether God found us angry and bitter towards a loved one, or using “white” lies to protect ourselves, or simply getting back at others for hurting us. No one has a clean slate. We all have slipped. I am just grateful that every time God has found me naked, although He disciplined me, He gave me another chance to make it right with Him. When Adam and Eve sinned, God found them in their naked state, no longer covered by His glory but covered with shame. They were using leaves to cover themselves. But the leaves were not enough and could not remove the stench of sin. The more you look for things to cover up sin, the worse it stinks. Sin is repulsive and deadly. The bible says in Genesis 3:21, “The Lord God made tunics of [animal] skins for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” An animal had to die because of Adam and Eve’s sin. For them to live, something had to die. Have you ever wondered how many things we have allowed to die in our lives because of our selfish nature to satisfy our sinful desires? Our relationship with God? Our relationships with others? Our businesses? Our destiny? Our calling? Every time we sin, there is an exchange. The enemy never tells us how much sinning would cost us. Because of Adam and Eve’s sin, an animal’s life was sacrificed.
I don’t know about you. But I have been Mona many times. I have laid in bed with the enemy of my soul, my destiny, my posterity. On many occasions, I have deliberately rejected God just to fulfill my own selfish desires. That’s why I cannot judge Mona, Adam or Eve. Our flesh has its own cravings. Although the enemy is seeking ways to destroy us, as his mission statement is to kill, to steal and to destroy, God has given us power to overcome the flesh. He does not want us to deliberately continue to live a life of sin. The bible says in Galatians 5: 16-17, “So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh...” Walking by the Spirit is the only way to overcome the flesh and its desires.
Our God is a relentless lover. He does not abandon us in our fallen state, as He did not abandon Adam and Eve, or Mona. John 3:16 says, “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” God gave Himself, in the person of Jesus Christ, offered Himself as the ultimate sacrifice, the lamb without spot or blemish, so that we can have life in His name. It’s important to know that although God has forgiven us of our wrong doing when we repent, He will sometimes let us deal with the consequences of our actions. Or else, where is the love? How would we grow and mature in Him? Discipline is also an expression of God’s love.
Ignorantly, When I was young in the faith, I used to think that when I pray, God will remove temptations out of my life. As I matured, I understood that He often does not remove the temptation but empowers us through His Spirit to subdue our flesh and make the right choice. God wants us to choose Him. A friend of mine said to me, “temptations do not stop after you get married but you will have to choose your spouse every time you are faced with a temptation.” In the same way, God wants us to choose Him when faced with sin. God is not looking for a bride that wears a white gown on a filthy body. He wants both the inner and outer content to be pure and holy before Him. Father, as much our flesh yearns for the things of the world and its lustful desires, let our spirit yearn for a consecrated life and a deep relationship with You.
Well, you want to know what happened to Mona? What did her husband do? He was angry, He was hurt but He washed her with his word, reminding her of who she is and not only what she had done. God is very good at disciplining us when we do wrong. That’s a father’s love. But He also cannot resist our repentant hearts towards Him when we come in humility and acknowledge our wrongs and do better. It’s true that we have an enemy but we also have an ally and if God is with us, who or what can stand against us. We can do all things through Christ who strengthens us including overcoming the desires of our flesh and resisting the enemy of our soul. So, my last question: When was the last time God caught you naked and what did you do about it?
- Nessa Esh
@Prayerstillworks
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Thank you for this wonderful read Nessa, a reminder of God’s faithful love despite everything. It may be a big deal to be naked (because you will bear the consequences) BUT it is crucial not to stay Naked. It’s important to go back to Jesus instead of hiding, to let HIM clothe us after we repent and turn away from sins, allowing His spirit to empowers us and to give us strength.
Loved, loved it 🥰. Thank you for being obedient and blessing us.
May you continue to be enlightened ❤️🙏🏾
Thank you Sis. You expanded on it so well. Why stay naked when He has prepared for us a garment of righteousness if we only humble ourselves and repent. His arms are always open, just waiting for us to “turn around = repent = change course” and come back to Him 🙏🏾