COVERED BY CHRIST
LIBERTY AND LOVE #121
God made coverings of animal skins for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden after they sinned. They tried to cover the shame of their nakedness with leaves, but blood had to be shed. Surely there is a spiritual lesson to be learned there. Only God can take away our sins. Only God can provide the covering that we need.
The Bible says that when we are baptized in Christ, we put on Christ (Gal. 3:27). In the third chapter of Colossians, Paul says that our lives are hidden with Christ in God. One way to think about what Jesus has done for us is that we are covered by the blood of Jesus, by the righteousness of Jesus, from the wrath of God.
Now back to Adam and Eve. “For Adam and his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them” (Gen. 3:21). In the traditional spirit of humanity’s self-effort, Adam and Eve tried to compensate for their nakedness, which should be a picture to us of a sinner trying to fix his sin by “doing right.” There is nothing you can do, no law you can obey, good enough to be saved on that basis. God must intervene. God must provide the covering.
That first bloodshed that came about as the result of God making coverings for Adam and Eve is a reminder. It is a reminder that blood has to be shed to cover sin. And God is the only one who can provide the covering. Remember that: Only God can cover your sins.
The words of the prophet Isaiah come to mind: “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels” (Isa. 61:10). HE has clothed me with the garments of salvation. Read Zechariah chapter 3 and there is a picture of this regarding Joshua the High Priest. This is a reason for rejoicing. God has given us the regal robes of righteousness that Jesus Christ purchased with his own blood. When we put our faith in Christ, we are clothed with Christ. Clothing covers nakedness. Shame. Sorrow. Sin. Our sins have been covered by the righteousness of Christ (2 Cor. 5:21; Gal. 3:27).
Our lives are hidden with Christ in God because we are covered by Christ. We sinned and rebelled against God, but Christ said, “I’ve got that covered.” His blood takes away our sins. His righteousness covers us so that we can be eternally saved. So that when God looks at us, he does not see our transgressions. He sees the righteousness, the perfection of our Savior.
This covering is free. It is worth more than all of the material garments in the world, yet it comes to us free of charge. Christ paid the bill. To those who love him and seek to follow him, he gives this free gift. If you care about Christ, about pleasing him, about his death for your sins, he knows that. And he will not forsake or cast away the one who loves him and trusts him.
Dewayne Dunaway
