“Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.” Genesis 3:7.

I had the privilege to share the Word at a small rural church about 40 minutes from where I live. The day was gray and drizzly and in the 50s, very unusual for this time of year; and the church was lightly attended.

I spoke on Genesis 1-3 concentrating heavily on the Fall. I mentioned that I in my shame had sewn my own fig leaves trying to hide from the Lord. Of course it impossible to hide from The Lord, one of the big O’s (Omnipotent, Omniscient, Omnipresent), He is omniscient. He knows our every thought and deed.

At any rate, I think the message was received well and I leaned on the strength of scripture. Yesterday morning, I reflected that what had once been a thriving church could eventually shut its doors in the future as the elderly saints pass on, unless of course, the Lord has another plan. I am praying that the leadership will select a pastor that God sends to revitalize the church and that it will be a beacon of hope to the community..

I have two grown daughters and one is going through an ugly separation period awaiting finalization of a divorce. There are young children involved which makes things worse. The unfolding of events has caused pain in our family, and last night was no exception with a long and painful phone conversation.

Theologian Cornelius Plantinga refers to sin and its consequences as the vandalism of shalom. God created us to be in perfect harmony with Him and each other, and by disobedience the true, deep peace was vandalized in the garden. I relived that yesterday. What had been an encouraging, harmonious Sunday gave way to a disastrous Monday and Monday night.

As I lay in bed at 4 a.m. this morning, I was deeply caught up in my own despair. Just wishing for peace and harmony. The enemy finds his way to tarnish everything, either by our actions, actions of others, are some other means such as physical injury or illness. The resulting emotional reactions are despair, bewilderment (why), deep pain and hurt and often not in this case guilt and shame (Fig leaves time). Shalom is still vandalized to this very day.

Yet, we have to open up the weary eyes and lift our tired arms and pray to the Creator. We have a comforter in the Holy Spirit, and we can look forward to that New Heaven and New Earth described in the last chapter of Revelation. As a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I must live in Him and not follow and live for this world . C. S. Lewis said we are living for the “speck,” this blink of the eye moment in infinity with the Lord God. “There are far, far better things ahead than any we leave behind.” (C. S. Lewis).

For me, I am continually getting wooed back into the world, and it is difficult to not do so when surrounded by people whose focus is on money, career, their homes, their status, their vehicle, their appearance, their golf game or maybe gym time, the next social media post, their weekend plans- their next vacation. Yes! living for the speck.

That is why Paul implores us to be “Continuing instant in prayer” (Romans 12:12). Prayer and the Word are two greatest weapons against the enemy’s endeavors to steal our joy. As James advises count it all joy, and trust in the Lord. One day our fig leaves will be burned, along with the sins of the world and Shalom will be restored. We must keep our eyes fixed on Jesus, who is alive, who is our hope and who is our salvation.