Form-fit

Okay, I am gonna do a little meddling this morning.  Ever pass a little gas in public, only to quickly walk away, looking as nonchalant and "innocent" as possible?  Or maybe hit the snooze button one too many times, then blame your tardiness on being "caught in traffic"?  Or perhaps a deadline passes without your work being finished and you excuse it away with just how "busy" you have been?  It is silly how we try to "cover up" our little "misgivings" with all kinds of make-shift "screens", isn't it?  As I was reading the story of Adam and Eve being tempted by the serpent this morning, I had the revelation of this "cover up" concept being a pretty OLD way of dealing with our short-comings!

⁶ When the Woman saw that the tree looked like good eating and realized what she would get out of it—she'd know everything!—she took and ate the fruit and then gave some to her husband, and he ate.  ⁷ Immediately the two of them did "see what's really going on"—saw themselves naked! They sewed fig leaves together as makeshift clothes for themselves.  (Genesis 3:6-7 The Message)

Our "cover-ups" are nothing better than "makeshift clothes", aren't they?  At best, they provide a "flimsy" excuse.  Yet, we are all subject to the same types of reactions to our misgivings, aren't we?  

Any time we try to cover up our failures, we are trying to "make do" with our short-comings.  We "improvise" - or some may say jury-rig our "fix".  I found myself suggesting the use of duct tape to cover over a penetration in a door to one of my maintenance guys at work the other day.  This may not seem like much to you, but if you know anything about fire-rated barrier doors, a little duct tape may cover the hole, but it does nothing to really address the issue!  The proper "fix" would be a metal plate applied to the opening.

Healing only begins when we submit our failures to the one who can do something about them.  Healing began when Adam and Eve finally admitted their "naked" condition to God - explaining WHY they felt the need to cover-up. We do all kinds of things to cover our "naked" condition of soul - yet nothing adorns us in the same way as grace!  

Why does grace "fit" us so well as a "cover" for our sinfulness?  Simply because grace is "formed" on the frame of all Christ did at the Cross.  If you have ever sewed, or watched a seamstress in their craft, you will know the purpose of the "form" they use to pattern a dress.  The "form" helps them provide an end-product which is "form-fitting" and uniquely designed for the individual.  The Lord "form-fits" grace using the form of Christ as the "model" by which grace is made specific to our need!

I don't know about you, but I have only bought a few things in the stores which actually fit me like a glove - just following my form and falling on me in such a flattering manner.  Yet, every time I have asked God to "outfit" me with his grace, I feel so well-adorned, like it just "fits" me like a glove!  When he sees me, he sees Christ.  I don't know how this all works, but I do trust him to "outfit" me with the best for my life - and the "outfitting" begins whenever I stop trying to "outfit" myself with my makeshift excuse of a "covering" for my misgivings!  

How about you?  Have you considered how you are adorned today?  If you have been 'settling' for the makeshift coverings - how about considering the one God has designed on the form of Christ - the one marked "MY grace is sufficient for YOUR need"!  You'll love the fit!