Evening Republican, Volume 18, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 January 1914 — God Covering Adam [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

God Covering Adam

B, rev. JAMES M. GRAY. D. D. Dean of Moody Bible laMaU. Chico

TEXT—And unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. —Gen. 3:2L

It is written in. Scripture that God “cbvereth himself with light as with a garment” (Psalm 104:2), and there are some who think we have a suggestion here of way in which our first parents were covered before the fall. But if so, they lost their outer glory with the inner, fc# no sooner did they commit sin, than

“the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked” (Gen. 3:7). At once they took steps to conceal their shame by (making for themselves aprons of fig leaves. How Inadequate was the provision,! And so we read that, later on, after their trial had been held, the penalty pronounced, and, blessed be God, the hope of a Savior held out to them, their need in the particular was also met. The text suggests the plan. A lamb was slain-, Its blood was shed, and its covering appropriated for the guilty pair. The whole circumstance is not only a beautiful, but a most important symbol of God’s dealings with the sinner In the spiritual realm. L Sin is an eye-opener. And this may be said even though it is equally true that the sinner is blind. How often he starts on a new career of ininquity, expecting satisfaction and pleasure, ouly to discover himself woefully disappointed and deceived. Happy is he, if at such a time, the power of the Holy Spirit works within him that deeper conviction of what sin really is and does, that may lead him to sedk eternal salvation, from it. * 2. The awakened sinner, not infrequently attempts by his own revising to rid himself of the consequences of sin. The fig leaves he employes are good resolutions, the temporary relinquishment, of some bad habit, the giving up of some form of v£e, staying at home nights, doing some deed of charity, attending church, perhaps "professing religion,” as it is sometimes called. 3. God only can cover the sinner’s sin. “Not by works of righteousness which we have- done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, *nd renewing of the Holy Ghost, which he shed on us Abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.” This Is Paul’s testimony to T'ltus, and It is the experience of e/ery soul that Is really saved (Titus 3: 5,6). 4. God covers our sin by a method oi his own. As the prophet Isaiah sings; “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 rightbousr ess” (Isaiah 51:10). 5. God obtains this covering es . lghteousness for us by the offering up of the life of the innocent for the guilty. “He spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all” (Romans 8:32). made him to be sin for us who knew no sin, that we might be made the righteousness of God in him” (2 Corinthians 6:21). Do we not see how purposely God’s covering of Adam symbolizes jvhat he is ready to do In the case of any fallen sinner who realizes his need? Do you realize yours? Are you toying vainly to help yoqjself, to cover your own spiritual nakedness? Why not accept God’s covering? Why not take Jesus Christ as your Savior by faith? It is so easy to do thlß. As an unknown author has said so beautifully: You ask me how I ever came to Christ? I do not know; There came a longing for Him In my soul So long ago. I found earth’s fairest flowers would tads and die. I yearned for something that would satisfy; And then at last somehow $ seemed to dare ' , To lift my broken heart to Him in prayer. I do not know, I can not tell you how; I only know He Is my Savior now. L i ■ You ask me why I ever came to Christ? ’ I can reply: It is a wondrous story; listen while I tell you why My heart was drawn at length to seek His face. ~ I was alone, I had no resting place; I heard of how He loved me, with a love Of depth-so great—of height so far above All human ken, I longed such love to share. And sought it then ■ Upon my knees In prsyer. You ask me why I thought this loving Christ Would heed my prayer? 1 knew He died upon the cross for me, I nailed Him there. , „ I heard Rls dying cry. "Father, forglver l saw Him drink death’s cup that I might live; My head was bowed ,upon my breast In shame. He called me, and li« penitence I came. He heard rtty prayer—--1 cannot tell you | how. . Or When, or where; Only I love Him now.