Fig Leaves

Introduction

In this series we are reading the story of the prodigal son as

The Wrong Story:

God is generous as long as I meet his expectations.

He expects me to be perfect, and I failed.

Now I am a failure, I am depraved, and God cannot bear my presence in this condition.

The only way I can be reconciled is to admit how depraved I am and trust Jesus to convince God to forgive me.

Classic family story: strict dad, banishes disappointing son, mom talks dad into taking him back.

NONE OF THAT MAPS ONTO THE STORY OF THE PRODIGAL SON.

The obstacle is entirely on the son’s side. How does that work?

Whose Expectations?

Genesis 2:25-3:7

They were naked an unashamed. Then they ate from the tree, and they realized they were naked and covered up.

Clearly they were ashamed, because they have become dirty and sinful, right?

It doesn’t say they were ashamed, it says they were afraid.

Nakedness refers to vulnerability.

We set out to be GODS, but we’re still FLAWED, vulnerable CREATURES. (Genesis 2:25-3:7)

This is what happens when we set out on our own. We realize that being an adult is harder than we thought.

The prodigal son realized that he was going to have to cut back his spending and get a job. So why didn’t he?

Because that’s not how we respond.

We cover ourselves with FIG LEAVES to HIDE our vulnerability. (Gen. 3:7)

I don’t wear clothes just to cover my body.

To cover my belly

My age

My poverty

Psychology says we all do this:

Distraction

Denial (clothes)

The son

Being a winner/hero/the main character

Adam blaming Eve

Genesis 3:12 NIV

The man said, “The woman you put here with me—she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it.”

Some of these things seem innocent enough, but they have pretty severe consequences.

Our FIG LEAVES keep us from knowing and LOVING others. (Gen. 4:1-8)

Look at Cain and Abel.

Cain will murder his brother because he wants to be the hero of the story—the main character.

The tragedy is that we can fool others, but we never fool God.

God sees exactly what’s going on in Cain’s heart. He isn’t impressed or disgusted by what he sees. He cuts right through it.

Genesis 4:6–7 NIV

Then the Lord said to Cain, “Why are you angry? Why is your face downcast? If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

This is how God reacts when he sees us naked.

John 8:10–11 NIV

Jesus straightened up and asked her, “Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?” “No one, sir,” she said. “Then neither do I condemn you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”

God SEES US—and LOVES US—exactly as we are. (Gen. 4:6-7, John 8:10-11)

Isn’t that just “come as you are, stay as you are?” Doesn’t that give permission to sin? Doesn’t that remove the reason to change?

NO, because you cannot embrace God’s love if you stay as you are. That’s what happens when we know all the facts but don’t know God’s love.

Phone call

Me

Politics

To EMBRACE God’s love we have to let go of the FIG LEAVES.