Dr. Mark E. Shaw: “We work so hard to cover our humanity and pretend we’ve got it all together, conceal our transgressions, to look like we’re perfect, to look like we’ve arrived, that we’re the answer and we’re the hope. And counselors do this just as much as anybody. But really we’ve got to confess that we’re broken… I’m turning away from my own sin and turning to God.”
Reading from Genesis chapter 3, Dr. Shaw teaches about Adam and Eve’s attempt to cover their sin. Instead of running to God Adam and Eve saw Him differently than before. They sewed fig leaves together to make loincloths. The Bible says that the man and his wife hid from the presence of God. Then the Lord God calls to the man. Even in their explanations of what happened to God, they are blame-shifting… both of them shifting the focus but the keywords are the last three words – “and I ate.” So they did take responsibility for what they had done.
The Rich Young Ruler from Mark chapter 10 – Do we forsake what we love, and what we have done …? Or do we try to hide it? Jesus is asking him ‘make yourself dependent on Me.’ And the man is disheartened which means he wanted to quit. He turns and walks away from the Messiah. Why is that? The Bible gives us insight: he had great possessions. This is one way how we fruitlessly try to hide our humanity. In forgiveness is our chance to change and glorifying God. How are you trying to cover your humanity?
An example is given social media; in an attempt to try and promote oneself as the ‘little g’ god it is yet another one of our attempts to cover our humanity.
In the COVID-19 pandemic, it’s clear that there is universal loss. People are hurting, becoming more aware of their frailties. Are people clinging too closely to the things of this life? We don’t need to believe the lie that "it has to get better". Circumstances could actually get worse. This is how to find satisfaction and my contentment in one place. And that’s in Jesus Christ.
