“And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.”
Genesis 2:25 NKJV
“Now the serpent was more cunning than any beast of the field which the Lord God had made. And he said to the woman, “Has God indeed said, ‘You shall not eat of every tree of the garden’?” And the woman said to the serpent, “We may eat the fruit of the trees of the garden; but of the fruit of the tree which is in the midst of the garden, God has said, ‘You shall not eat it, nor shall you touch it, lest you die.’ ” Then the serpent said to the woman, “You will not surely die. For God knows that in the day you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.””
Genesis 3:1-5 NKJV
Do you know that you have been entrusted with the reputation of Jesus? Let that sink in for a moment. I heard Joyce Meyer say that and it connected with my spirit. The Father trusted us with His Son’s reputation. That’s heavy duty. How have we been doing with it so far?
When we were kids we believed our parents were trying to keep us from having fun. When we become adults we believe other people are trying to take things from us. When we became Christians we believed God is trying to keep things from us. When are we going to learn that experience trumps our belief system? Our parents knew more than us, experienced people knew more than us but the one who created all of us knows more than everybody. Eve never would have succumbed to the liar had she stopped to think before trying to defend God to another created being. The moment we add to God’s Word when supposedly speaking for Him, it’s an open invitation to the liar and enemy of both us and God to walk right in. John the revelator wrote under the influence of the Holy Spirit: Don’t add to the Word and don’t take away from the Word.Revelation 22:18-19
“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves coverings. And they heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the garden.”
Genesis 3:7-8 NKJV
Are you in the habit of protecting His glory? Or are you more interested in what you believe is more pleasing to your eyes? God’s Spirit in us is His divine presence to be guarded at all times. This is why we can’t just listen to every sermon because it’s coming from a preacher. We can’t read every book because it’s written by a Christian, we can’t attend every conference because popular voices of the day are conducting it. We must enquire of the Lord if that’s what He wants us to participate in. Sometimes He hasn’t been invited. Sometimes He’s not the inspiration behind the book, and sometimes that preacher is no different than a hireling. We need to be discerning if we’re going to protect His glory in our lives.
You can’t be unclothed unless you allow it. To be uncovered without your consent is a crime. But whenever you invite a stranger into your private space and allow them to cast dispersion against someone you know personally, allowing them to twist the truth you know and cause you to question or reconsider what you’ve been told, then it’s no longer ignorance but a deliberate act of disobedience. Eve’s eyes were never closed, they were just closed to what wasn’t of value to her. She had touched the tree before- so had Adam. But obedience is a protective shield for our eyes. Disobedience opens them and causes spiritual cataracts. Instead of glory they now had shame. Instead of seeing clearly they were now faced with darkness and despair. They had failed to protect the glory from the predator.
Every time we choose disobedience over honoring the Word of God, we strip ourselves naked. We lose our boldness and authority. We live with a sense of guilt, regret and condemnation. There was no going back for Adam and Eve. There were no do overs. What their eyes were now seeing, what they thought they would gain, was replaced with anguish and regret. They had failed to protect the glory. They lacked nothing. Every need, want and desire was in one place: Obedience. Make no mistake about it. We may be living in the age of grace, but to take that and twist it around and make it a license to sin is a big mistake. The apostle Paul asked this question of the Roman church:
“What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?”
Romans 6:1 NKJV
We aren’t called to protect God, but we’re called to represent the kingdom. An ambassador is not a citizen of the country he’s living in. He’s there to protect the rights of the nation he represents. In a sense he or she is protecting the glory of that nation. An American ambassador in Israel is not there representing Israel, he's representing Americans and our interests . He or she isn’t provided for by the host nation, we take care of their needs. Whatever he or she does while abroad, whether good or bad, is a reflection on the President. We represent God to the world. Jesus prayed that the Father would give us the same glory He had while here on earth. Jesus protected His Father’s glory. There was no scandal in the life of Jesus. Satan tried to create one by opening Judas’ eyes, but like Adam and Eve before him, he couldn’t handle what he saw so he hung himself.
Are you protecting His glory? Are you allowing voices to speak for God, are you entertaining the enemy’s lies, his twisting of the Truth? Have you opened the door through deliberate disobedience and disregard for what the Holy Spirit has already imparted to you and are now trying to cover your nakedness with fig leaves? Ask Adam and Eve how that worked out for them. The Bible says Christ in us is the hope of glory. We are lacking in nothing. There’s no need for us to entertain the lies of Satan. Eve took the bait, but we don’t need to. Protect the glory of God in you by avoiding situations and people who seek to unclothe you. Satan doesn’t care about you, he’s after the glory in you. Protect it, guard it. You protect everything else. This life you’ve been given is worth protecting from predatory influences. Listen to the Holy Spirit if it's the truth you’re seeking. He has all the answers. Don’t consult with a liar. If Eve had stopped at “we can eat from every tree,” Genesis 2:16 -the door would’ve been shut. Protect the glory, shut down idle chatter. Speak wholesome words. Never give your glory away for a cheap imitation-one promising you more than the Lord has provided.
No one can cover you better than Jesus. No one can offer you more than Jesus. And no one cares more for you than Jesus. It’s His glory that you are wearing, not some cheap counterfeit. Protect it. When you have fallen short of it, don’t make excuses like Adam and Eve did. Confess it, own up to it and receive His forgiveness. You may still have to face the consequences but at least you won’t be condemned. He will restore. He’s a loving Father. The deceiver’s fate is sealed. But you have been granted forgiveness through the blood of the Lamb. He will clothe you once again with His glorious presence. Protect His glory by walking in obedience to His Word. No ad libbing. Let Him be the answer of your tongue and you’ll never be deceived.🙏
“I stand before you, beckoning you to step into the fires of My holy passion. These fires of purity and love will burn away the residue of disappointment, pain, and sorrow. My love cannot be overcome by what the enemy has done. My blood is more than enough to wash away every trauma. My love is a living force. It is healing. Teaming with power. Able to completely and totally set you free, so that even the most tormenting memories are suddenly void of pain.” Quote from I hear His Whisper
Written by permission of the Holy Spirit
W. Tennant
February 4, 2022