Shame:

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=150 BGCOLOR="#66CC99" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <bR> <div> <IMG SRC="061694f0.jpg" border=0 width="105" height="79" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></div> <bR> <div> "When Noah drank some of it's wine, he became drunk, and lay uncovered inside his tent." </div> <div> Genesis 9:21 </div> </td> <td valign="top" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <bR> <div> <B>Shame:</B></div> <bR> <div> Can you imagine the shame of that? <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3399CC" FACE="Verdana" >(Read the verse on the left).</FONT></div> <div> Here is the <B>great</B> man of God, he doesn't just get tipsy, but totally smashed! </div> <div> He is seen here, entirely destitute of thought, or any principles, and is unable to seek for something that would <B>cover</B> over his shame. </div> <div> I would like to spend a little time, looking at the subject of shame. </div> <div> So let's start from where it first appeared in Genesis chapter 3. </div> <div> Adam and Eve had <B>disobeyed</B> God, and <B>they</B> tried to cover their shame with some fig leaves! </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#3399CC" FACE="Verdana" >Verse 8 </FONT>"Then the man and his wife, heard the sound of the Lord God, as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they <B>hid</B> from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?' He answered; 'I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; so I hid.' And the Lord said: 'Who told you that you were naked?' </div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" ><IMG SRC="0945e7c0.jpg" border=0 width="94" height="124" ALIGN="LEFT" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT>As if the Lord didn't <B>know</B> what had happened, and where they were hiding! </div> <div> God was coming with His light, to <B>expose</B> their sin, so they could <B>admit</B> their offence. </div> <div> But until He came to them, they were <B>hiding</B> in the darkness, vainly hoping that the Lord would not see them.</div> <bR> <div> Have we faced up to the sin we have committed? </div> <div> Or are we trying to hide in the darkness, trying not to get too close to the Lord? </div> <div> John wrote: </div> <div> "This is the message we have heard from Him, and declare to you: God is light; in Him there is <B>no</B> darkness at all. If we claim to have fellowship with Him yet walk in the <B>darkness</B>, we lie, and do not live by the truth. But if we walk in the <B>light</B>,as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, His Son, purifies us from all sin. If we claim to be <B>without</B> sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we <B>confess</B> our sins, He is faithful, and just, and will <B>forgive</B> us our sins, and purify us from all unrighteousness." <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#3399CC" FACE="Verdana" >(1 John 1:5)</FONT></div> <div> We can't hide from the Lord, and He is able to not only <B>forgive</B> our sins, but also, to <B>purify</B> us. </div> <div> It doesn't matter how long ago it happened, now would be a good time to face up to it. </div> <div> Shame is a <B>good</B> reaction in us, when we fall into sin, <B>provided</B> we can then go <B>towards</B> God's light, to seek forgiveness. </div> <div> It is more dangerous <B>not</B> to have any shame, after committing an offence, because we are more likely to <B>ignore</B> the prompting of the Holy Spirit, Who will be showing us that we are in the wrong, and that we need to repent. </div> <bR> <div> Let's return to Noah. </div> <div> This rather <B>humiating</B> incident, (which incidentally, has been <B>publicised</B> to millions of people down through the ages), did not stop God's Spirit from writing this tribute to Noah: <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Verdana" >"Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked with God."</FONT> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#3399CC" FACE="Verdana" >(Genesis 6:9)</FONT></div> <div> <FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#3399CC" FACE="Verdana" >Also in Hebrews it says that Noah </FONT>"became heir of the <B>righteousness</B> that comes by faith." <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#3399CC" FACE="Verdana" >(Hebrews 11:7)</FONT></div> <div> The good news is that God's grace is <B>sufficient</B>. </div> <div> And from Romans 5:21 we see that God's grace can counter the sin, and it is <B>His</B> grace that <B>reigns</B> through righteousness, to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.</div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id157.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Contact Bible Explained"><U>Comment or contact</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="bible_teaching_with_no_compromise__the_whole_truth_.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Understanding your Life"><U>Return to the Understanding Your Life menu</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Bible Explained"><U>Home</U></A></div> <bR> <div> Images: thanks to ‘The Pictorial Dictionary’ published by The Educational Book Company, London. </div> <div> ©  2003 Bible  Explained part of www.seeking-god.co.uk</div> <bR> </td> </tr></table></body>