IN "LIGHT" OF THE NAKED TRUTH! (PART: ONE)

"Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves lioncloths." 
(Genesis 3:7, ESV).

Had this question posed to me: "What is the significance of Adam and Eve's suddenly becoming aware that they were naked according to Genesis 3:7?" 

I believe the answer is twofold. First, after eating the forbidden fruit, they realized they had sinned against God, which resulted in guilt and shame. Hence, they sought human means to cover their sin with fig leaves and to hide from God. Second, why would they seek physical means to cover their nakedness with fig leaves for a problem that was primarily spiritual in nature, and had to do with their heart? (1) The act of the transgression against God's command was first conceived in the heart by the temptation, (2) and then carried out in the flesh by eating the fruit, which God had commanded them not to eat (2:16-17; 3:1-6). (3) the consequences was the loss of their innocence and the sentence of death (2:17; Rom. 5:12). All this answers the questions above, but only in part. The nagging question still remains. Why did they suddenly become aware of their feeling physically exposed and naked? It never bothered them before, why now? This raises the question: What else did they lose when they fell into sin? I believe the answer is found in the fact that man bears "the image of God" (Gen. 1:27). Yes, man's image is presently marred by sin. However, before the fall man was in a sense without sin, perfect in innocence, knowing not sin, nor its consequences. This means Adam's body then differed from ours in that it was not subject to disease, genetic defects, or death. Man was spiritually alive to God and enjoyed fellowship with God in the Garden of Eden until sin interrupted that fellowship. Sin brought not only death, but separation from God as well. So when man died spiritually, the light went out from him. Our original parents, before the image of God in them was marred, shared in common with God, light. They were clothed in light.

Here, consider these Scriptures on God as Light: To begin with, God is light, "This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all." (1 John 1:5, ESV). Second, He is the Father of lights, "Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shifting shadow." (Jam. 1:17, NASB). Third, He dwells in unapproachable light, "who alone has immortality, who dwells in unapproachable light, whom no one has ever seen or can see. To him be honor and eternal dominion. Amen." (1 Tim. 6:16, ESV).

Consider these Bible verses on man as light: First, man gets light from God's Word, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." (Psalm 119:105, ESV). Second, man is light in that he is a Testimony for Christ by good works towards man, "In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven." (Matt. 5:16, ESV). Third, We are to follow the Light of the World, "Then Jesus again spoke to them, saying, "I am the Light of the world; he who follows Me will not walk in the darkness, but will have the Light of life." Fourth, He will transform our lowly body, "And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became white as light." (Matt. 17:2, ESV). "Who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself." (Phil. 3:21, ESV).

In Conclusion: The Scriptures establish that God is Light, like the Psalmist says, "covering yourself with light as with a garment,..." (Psalm 104:2, ESV). The Bible also states that man will one day be clothed in light in his resurrected body, much like Adam was in the beginning (see 1 Cor. 15:42-54; Phil. 3:21). At present, Christian are still in their perishable bodies that are subject to death. They will not receive their new bodies until the day of the resurrection. It is then our new body will once again be clothed in light. There is still so much I don't understand about the different natures between the physical and spiritual bodies and what they reveal. I am presently still studying the issue. For a more detailed study on the topic of man's body of light, see this link:http://www.douglashamp.com/bodies-of-light-and-adams-bioph…/

It is sad that we primarily hear only about the first answer and rarely, if at all, hear about the second one.

THE VIRTUE OF SUBMISSION

But Honey the Bible says Submit?"..... "I'LL GIVE YOU SUBMIT 

"Submitting to one another out of reverence for Christ. Wives, submit to your own husbands, as to the Lord."
(Eph. 5:21-22, ESV).

It is interesting to note where our focus is to be placed in regards to our submission. Generally speaking we are to submit to "one another." Yet our focus for submitting is to the Lord. We are to do it "out of reverence for Christ" (5:21) and "as to the Lord." (5:22). The title "Lord" speaks of authority. Christ's authority is supreme, therefore we are to submit to it (see Matt. 28:18; Phil. 2:9-11). Those we submit our service to benefit from it, whereas our focus or reason for doing so is to the Lord. "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me." (Matt. 25:40, ESV). Did you catch that phrase? "You did it to me." When we submit in service to one another, it is just like we are doing it to the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. How humbling to consider that Christ identifies Himself with us. So each person we submit our service to is actually to the Lord Himself. Equally true is the fact how we treat others, whether good or bad, is as if we were doing it to the Lord Himself. This should cause us to pause and seriously reflect on how we treat one another.

Submission is a double edged sword. It cuts both ways. The blade must cut deeply in the heart of both husband and wife, so all traces of pride, manipulation, control, and selfish ambitions may be slain. Though the husband's responsible for the leadership in the home, yet he should never consider it beneath him to humbly serve his wife in submission and love. Without the virtue of submission on the part of both spouses, there will be a lack of balance in the relationship. One will serve, while the other does not. A truly healthy and lasting relationship can only exist if the husband and wife live according to a symbiotic relationship, not a parasitic one. If the relationship be a parasitic one, it will eat away at the unity and harmony that rules that relationship until it collapses. Submission is the true path to the virtues of unity, harmony, and peace. Submission does not conquer by force, but by humble resolve and compliance. Submission is the brother to sacrifice. Now rebellion against the principle of submission may seize a kingdom for a fleeting moment, by pride, arrogance, and force, but its own lust for power and control will prove its own undoing. The flower of Submission is seen in the favor of its calming fragrant influence that wins a place in the King's court; whereas the hemlock of Pride's foul poison spreads its deadly influence which seals its own fate. Pride's kingdom is only for the moment, whereas Submission's kingdom is eternal.

Racism or Ethnic Discrimination?

"And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth,..." 

(Acts 17:26, NKJV). 

It never ceases to amaze me how people misunderstand racism. Here, let me explain this in brief. By one blood, God made all the peoples of the world.  "And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth,..." (See Acts 17:26). Yet people still refer to different ethnic groups such as Caucasian, Indian, Chinese, native, and black people as different races. Then we wonder why certain ETHNIC groups are discriminated against. One ethnic group thinking themselves better than another ethnic group. There is a reason why the proper context is "the human race," not "human races." People who discriminate against native people are discriminating against a specific ethnic group within the human race. In order to properly use the plural form of "races" in a correct context, there would need to be more than one race of beings.

For example, there are various alien races in such movies as Star Trek or Star Wars. On Star Trek we have the Human race, Klingon race, the Romulan race, Vulcan race, and the Ferengi race. If such races existed, then yes, racism would exist. Since there is only one RACE, the human race, then those who persecute a specific ethnic group within the human race are guilty of ethnic discrimination. So to discriminate against one ethnic group is really to discriminate against the human race period. Ethnic discrimination is what needs to stop.

May God help us to love ALL ethnic groups, and not just our own ethnic group we are associated with. There should be no room in our hearts for such hatred and discrimination against specific ethnic groups. No specific group of people is better then another group. God does not favour one ethnic group above another. If He did, He would not have made so many various ethnic groups of people with different skin colours and diverse languages. The Lord desires all nations, tribes, and peoples to be with Him. Unfortunately, not all will be saved and in heaven, but the Lord will still have believers representing all peoples, nations, and tongues gathered around His throne. “I looked, and behold, a great multitude ... of all nations, tribes, peoples, and tongues, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, with palm branches in their hands, and crying out with a loud voice, saying, ‘Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!’” (Rev. 5:9; 7:9-10).