Nothing to Hide - The Wesleyan Church

Adam and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. (Gen. 2:25)

George, a recent divorcee, confessed to his friend that the swinging bachelor life he led was not nearly as much fun as one might imagine. The envy of many of his friends, George (the fictitious name given by the writer who told this story) had a bachelor pad at the beach, where he entertained beautiful young women night after night. But, confidentially, to his friend he confessed, “I hate this life. You know what I’d really like? I’d like to go home tonight, smell dinner cooking, hug my wife hello, and spend the evening telling her and showing her how much I love her, and go to sleep knowing she’d be there in the morning.”

The twin ideas of “naked” and “no shame” in our verse today indicate intimacy. Adam and Eve were comfortable with each other. And we can carry the idea beyond the physical to think about emotional transparency and intimacy. They had no hang-ups, nothing to hide, no embarrassment, no fears.

This was all before sin entered the picture. Later, after they had sinned, God came looking for them. Adam said, “I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid” (Gen. 3:10). Suddenly Adam did have something to hide, some embarrassment, some fear. Fortunately, honesty with God and repentance can bring forgiveness.

Transparency brings peace and intimacy.

Be transparent in your most intimate relationship.

Ron McClung lives in Fishers, Indiana, with his wife, Carol. He has served The Wesleyan Church for over fifty years and written his weekly column, Positive Perspective, for more than thirty.