Once Adam and Eve eat the forbidden fruit they immediately become aware of their nakedness and are ashamed. They quickly fashion coverings of fig leaves to cover themselves. They hear the Lord walking in the garden and they hide from him. After he calls them out, forces them to explain their actions, and metes out their punishment he makes some more substantial garments for them out of animal skins.
This same dynamic plays itself out today in our relationship to the Creator. When we become aware and acknowledge that we have sinned, we feel ashamed. In a sense, we feel naked as well, our soul is laid bare before the Lord – and sometimes to those around us as well, depending on how and to whom we have hurt when we have sinned. We, too, are often tempted to do a hasty cover-up to assuage our guilt and shame. But, nothing is hidden from God and he will seek us out in our own garden through the conviction of the Holy Spirit and force us to explain ourselves.
In the overall sense of things, unlike Adam and Eve, we don’t have to have our punishment meted out to us, because Jesus has paid the penalty for us. That does not mean, however, we are completely prevented from facing any consequences of our actions. But the good news is, just as he covered their nakedness, he will wrap his garments of mercy and forgiveness around us. We can then put away the feeling of shame and walk with him again unhindered.
Notes from a Book Nerd 