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Uncovered: The Naked Truth I am starting a new series of sermons this summer that will be based on classic questions from the Bible. There are poignant moments in the Bible where someone asked a question that has long reaching ramifications. In some cases these questions are asked by God and in others they are asked by individuals who are usually encountering God or a God moment in their lives.

It is no secret that we often fall into ruts or habits of behavior in our lives. Sometimes these habits or behaviors are harmless and sometimes they are devastating to ourselves and others.

I recently read a story from a 1930s edition of the Chicago Herald Examiner about a husband and a wife. The article, "Man Spites His Wife by Staying Blindfolded in Bed Seven Years," reads:

The strange story of Harry Havens of Indiana, who went to bed--and stayed there--for seven years with a blindfold over his eyes because he was peeved at his wife, was revealed here today when he decided to get out of bed. Havens was the kind of husband who liked to help around the house--hang pictures, wipe the dishes, and such. His wife scolded him for the way he was performing one of these tasks, and he resented it. He is reported to have said: "All right. If that's the way you feel, I'm going to bed. I'm going to stay there the rest of my life. And I don't want to see you or anyone else again." His last remark explains the blindfold. He got up, he explained, when the bed started to feel uncomfortable after seven years. Citation: Van Morris; Mount Washington, Kentucky; source: Chicago Herald Examiner (11-17-1930)

I think the fascinating part of that story is that it took him seven years for the bed to become uncomfortable. With God’s help I want to help you take a serious look at yourself and three very important areas in your life.

It is the first question that God asked in the Bible. It is not the last question, as you will see as this series of sermons unfold over the summer.

“...but the Lord God called to man, ‘Where are you?’”

From the beginning of time as we know it God has been continually asking his human creations the same question, where are you?

In essence this question revolves around three personal questions.

The question is where are you?

Drama # 1

1. Where are you with Yourself?

It’s funny really. We would almost rather do anything than answer this question. We are usually very quick to have opinions about other people. We judge the way they do their life, raise their kids, drive their cars, paint their houses, mow their yard, and a thousand other things. We are quick to inventory others but very hesitant to examine our own lives.

Sometimes we don’t want to examine ourselves because we know we are doing things wrongly or we are struggling with issues that we would rather not bring up.

Adam and Eve allowed themselves to be deceived into doing something they clearly knew was wrong. They got off track. I’ve got to tell you that it is not easy to forgive them for that. Do you know the mess they created by not taking care of themselves? By not guarding their hearts?

We have been stuck with the consequences of Adam and Eve’s lack of self-control. They had one simple rule to follow and yet they couldn’t keep it.

I ask you this morning, is there anything in your life that you have done or are doing on a regular basis that keeps you from enjoying the presence of God in your life?

How are things in your private life? How are things in that area of your life where no one but you knows what is going on?

You may wonder why we would ask such probing questions. I can tell you. People have a tendency to think that what they do when no one is looking somehow is just their personal little secret.

God knows. God sees. God hears.

In the early days of the New Testament church there is a story of Ananias and his wife, Sapphira, who sold a piece of property and then tried to lie to the rest of the church about how much they sold it for. The apostle Peter said, “Ananias, how is it that Satan has so filled your heart that you have lied to the Holy Spirit. . .”

What a startling question. God is asking this morning. Where are you?

David prayed in the psalms, “Keep your servant also from willful or presumptuous sins; may they not rule over me.” Psalm 19:13

Take a moment and reflect on your most private life. The places that no one else knows about. Hear God asking you where are you?

Drama #2

2. Where are you with Others?

Adam quickly blamed Eve when he got into trouble. Relationships can sometimes cause us major problems.

You need other people. You need the people in this church. You need to be in a small group and building relationships with others that will allow you to enjoy fellowship the way God intended it to be.

I want to ask you today if God were to come calling in the garden of your life and ask you where you were with certain relationships, how would you respond.

Is there someone that you have struggled with and instead of accepting them warts and all you have just written them off?

I will admit that there are some people that have the potential to drive me crazy. I don’t see any in the room right now . . . because I’m looking down at my notes. Ha! There are not many but all of us have someone. We have to be able to extend grace to those people. Our model is Jesus Christ who loved even those who would one day crucify Him. He didn’t become their best friends and that is not what I am suggesting but even from the cross He forgave them and prayed for them.

It was Jesus who encouraged us to pray for our enemies.

In Adam’s case it wasn’t someone distant or outside on the fringes of his life it was his wife. I think what I want you to reflect on this morning is how are you doing with those you love the most.

How is today with your wife or husband?
How are you doing today with your parents?
How are you doing today with your children?
Are there things that have happened that have caused a brokenness in your relationships?
What are you doing to heal them?

Corrie ten Boom and her family secretly housed Jews in their home during WWII. Their "illegal" activity was discovered, and Corrie and her sister Betsie were sent to the German death camp Ravensbruck. There Corrie would watch many, including her sister, die.

After the war she returned to Germany to declare the grace of Christ:

It was 1947, and I'd come from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives. It was the truth that they needed most to hear in that bitter, bombed-out land, and I gave them my favorite mental picture. Maybe because the sea is never far from a Hollander's mind, I liked to think that that's where forgiven sins were thrown.

"When we confess our sins," I said, "God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever. And even though I cannot find a Scripture for it, I believe God then places a sign out there that says, 'NO FISHING ALLOWED.' "

The solemn faces stared back at me, not quite daring to believe. And that's when I saw him, working his way forward against the others. One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat; the next, a blue uniform and a cap with skull and crossbones. It came back with a rush--the huge room with its harsh overhead lights, the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor, the shame of walking naked past this man. I could see my sister's frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were! That place was Ravensbruck, and the man who was making his way forward had been a guard--one of the most cruel guards.

Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out: "A fine message, Fräulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!" And I, who had spoken so glibly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. He would not remember me, of course--how could he remember one prisoner among those thousands of women? But I remembered him. I was face-to-face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze.

"You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk," he was saying. "I was a guard there." No, he did not remember me. "But since that time," he went on, "I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fräulein,"--again the hand came out--"will you forgive me?"

And I stood there--I whose sins had again and again to be forgiven--and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place. Could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking? It could have been many seconds that he stood there--hand held out--but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.

For I had to do it--I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. "If you do not forgive men their trespasses," Jesus says, "neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses." And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart.

But forgiveness is not an emotion--I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. "Jesus, help me!" I prayed silently. "I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling." And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust out my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.

"I forgive you, brother!" I cried. "With all my heart!" For a long moment we grasped each other's hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God's love so intensely, as I did then. But even then, I realized it was not my love. I had tried, and did not have the power. It was the power of the Holy Spirit. Citation: Corrie ten Boom, Tramp for the Lord (Berkley, 1978), pp. 53-55; submitted by Eugene A. Maddox; Interlachen, Florida

We all have a lot of Adam in us. It is so easy to spend our lives blaming other people for our problems. It is way too easy to allow things to come between us and to allow ourselves to be caught up in the deadly game of nursing our little wounds. People are not perfect and they are going to do what you think are dumb things sometimes. Let it go.

Quit judging. Quit letting the weaknesses of others keep you from practicing grace. Be merciful. Be loving. Let Jesus love others through you.

I want to emphasize again the need to be a part of a small group. In a church this size you’re not going to get to know everybody. You need to deal with that and find a group of people to practice the graces and gifts that God has given you. Do life with these people and you find that you will be blessed.

Most of us hate to be held accountable, but the Bible teaches that we all need it to mature and develop. Researchers at Michigan State University have also found accountability to be beneficial. These data crunchers discovered that 97 percent of the dieters who bet someone they would stick to a weight-loss plan for six months actually succeeded in their pursuit. Conversely, over 80 percent of those who didn’t make such bets failed to stay with the dieting regimen. For these dieters, accountability gave them nearly a four-to-one edge toward success. Now the Bible doesn’t suggest we bet on diets, but it does counsel us to use accountability as an effective tool for discipleship. If you haven’t already made yourself accountable to a fellow Christian, try it out and see if it doesn’t enhance your spiritual growth. Houston Chronicle, June 26, 1996, p. 2D

Will you just take a moment to reflect on how you are doing in your relationships with other people?

Drama #3

3. Where are you with God?

The story is told of a shoplifter who writes to a department store and says, "I've just become a Christian, and I can't sleep at night because I feel guilty. So here's $100 that I owe you."Then he signs his name, and in a little postscript at the bottom he adds, "If I still can't sleep, I'll send you the rest. Citation: Bill White; Paramount, California

That’s not what we’re going for in this message. We’re going for total honesty. The naked truth.

Focusing on a right relationship with God will take care of the others and ourselves.

God is always asking where are you when it comes to your relationship with Him.

This morning we are giving you the opportunity to ask yourself these questions. It is sort of a spiritually inventory time.

You may think of God as being harsh and a bit of a tyrant but in reality He is loving and full of love for you and I.

Think about the most loving parent you know. One that is loving and redemptive and you will have a picture of God.

What happens when children get in trouble? Of course there is a price to be paid but the parents in most cases will stand up not for their children’s actions but for their children.

John Hinckley’s parents.
The so-called highway snipers family.
The Columbus area mother whose Navy son has just been arrested for murder.

Want to know how much God loved Adam and Eve?

“ The LORD God made garments of skin for Adam and his wife and clothed them.” Gen. 3:21

I am filled with the love of God when I read those words. They discovered how naked they were before God. Can you think of a more vulnerable feeling?

Some of you this morning may feel as though you have been undressed. The righteousness you project is truly nothing but filthy rags.

God loves you. God wants to clothe you this morning. Some of us may have never even started to walk with God yet. You need to come to Him for the first time.

Some of us have grown so accustomed to God that we take Him for granted. Our will has become His will or at least that is what we tell ourselves.

Can you face yourself today and hear God, “Where are you?”

2004/06/06