False Selfنموونە

False Security and the False Self

Sin is more than breaking a rule – it’s breaking the heart of God. When Adam and Eve chose to disobey God by eating the forbidden fruit, sin entered their lives, corrupting them with shame and fear.

God loved them and did not want them to be stuck in their false self forever. So, He sent them out of the Garden, away from the tree of life, until His redemptive plan could be carried out to restore their true selves.

Watch this Lumo clip to see how it played out:

After eating the forbidden fruit, Adam and Eve looked at themselves with critical eyes for the first time and covered their bodies with fig leaves.

Think about this practically. Those leaves would eventually wither, forcing Adam and Eve to contrive another solution to mask the consequences of their disobedience.

Guilt is about behavior: I did something wrong.

Shame is about identity: There is something wrong with me.

While guilt can motivate us towards repentance, shame does not come from God. It feeds a lie that says, “You better find something to cover this up, or you will never be loved again.”

Our fig leaves come in many forms:

Prestige: Admiration based on our status.

Power: Control over others and situations.

Popularity: Approval that validates our worth.

People: Relationships that define our identity.

Perfection: Striving for flawlessness.

Perhaps the most dangerous attribute of our fig leaves is the fact that they work, at least temporarily. But we cannot fool God. His love pierces through our false selves and sees us in our truest form.

Here’s the good news: God did not leave us to struggle with our insecurities and shame on our own. He sent us the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit empowers us to take off our fig leaves and explore who we truly are in Jesus.

Reflection:

Do your fig leaves exhaust you? Has your shame caused you to live in fear rather than in God’s love? Today, you can surrender to God’s freedom and let Him clothe you with the presence of His Holy Spirit and love.

Prayer:

God, forgive me for the times I have attempted to define my identity outside of You. Fill me with Your Spirit to help me in my weaknesses. Amen.