And the man and his wife were both naked and were not ashamed (Genesis 2:25).

 

God established the relationship between men and women in a way that would help to preserve and enhance their relationship to Him and each other. All relationships are built upon trust. Trust is the bridge over which meaningful interchange takes place. The stronger the bridge, the more weight that can be carried across this bridge. You can have love, and you can have forgiveness, but if you do not have trust, it will be a shallow relationship.

 

When the man and woman were naked, it is implied that it was more than being without clothes. They trusted each other enough to be open and transparent with each other. This is the way that we were created to be, completely free and open with others, with nothing being hidden. This is the goal of marriage—two people who are completely open and free with each other.

 

That the man and woman were naked and "not ashamed" explains why they were able to be transparent and trusting with each other. Shame is one of the most destructive forces in a relationship because it causes us to begin hiding things from each other. Relationships that are begun and kept from the things that cause shame will be the strongest and most fulfilling. Therefore, true love will always be devoted to purity first, not the immediate gratification. Shame destroys relationships between us and God, ourselves, and others.

 

Shame is the result of sin. It is caused by doing things that we know are wrong. When we willfully sin, it causes us to want to hide. Sin begins to kill the free expression of our hearts, which distorts our personalities and our potential.

 

God created us to be social creatures, thus needing fellowship with Him and with each other. Shame causes hiding from one another, and also results in the first thing that God said was not good—loneliness. Sin is not worth the price.

 

Like the tragedy of Adam and Eve, most seem to have to experience the consequences of sin before they will believe it. However, if we will choose to do what is right, determining we will not do the things that will cause us to have to hide anything, we will begin to experience the greatest freedom that we can ever know. We will also begin to see an amazing change in our relationships. Shame should be a red warning light to us that what we are doing is wrong, as we read in I John 1:6-7:

 
 

If we say that we have fellowship with Him and yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth;

but if we walk in the light as He Himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another,

and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

 
 

As stated, the Greek word translated "fellowship" in this text is koinonia. This word implies far more than just a casual friendship. It is a deep union. The word "cleanses" indicates more than just a removal of the consequences of our sin, but also the removal of shame. The restored fellowship we are supposed to have in Christ is intended to remove the shame that entered with the Fall. This will allow us to be sincere and candid with one another. If we are walking in the light as the Lord is in the light, we will have a fellowship that is so deep and real with Him and His people, that there will be nothing we have to hide from each other.

 

If we say that we have this fellowship, but have things that we cannot bring into the light, we are lying (see I John 1:6). If we have something in our lives that we are afraid will be uncovered, then we should get rid of it. Anything that we are afraid to have brought to the light is evil because it can only survive in darkness. We should also refrain from any kind of secret relationships, secret clubs, or organizations that are secretive. Such will not be light, but obviously contain darkness or they would not have to be kept secret. Of course, persecution may call for an exception to this, as there are places where Christians must meet together in secret for their safety. However, there is a great difference in organizations that are secretive, and those that are forced to be secret because of persecution.

 

We should also seek to be such trustworthy people that others feel free to share openly with us. Sometimes love requires discretion, and this "love covers a multitude of sins" (see I Peter 4:8). Above all, as we read in I John 2:28, "And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence and not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming." Such a hope will keep us pure.