UNASHAMED

When I was growing up, I was ashamed of many trivial matters, like when I wore generic shoes to school, or when my family used coupons to go out to eat, or when my mom wanted to give me a hug in front of my friends, or when my dad would wear knee high socks with his shorts.
That was what I was ashamed of then, but now I’m ashamed of much more serious matters, such as sin. Paul describes sin as “the things of which you are now ashamed.” (Rom 6:21) Personally, I’m ashamed of how I often fear man more than I fear God. I’m ashamed of the countless times every day I put my own needs ahead of others. I’m ashamed of the way I don’t serve my wife and kids as I should. I’m ashamed of how lazy I can be. I’m ashamed of how I seek first the kingdom of Dan instead of the Kingdome of God. And of course, I’m ashamed of the things I don’t want to share with you, because I’m ashamed of them.
The amazing thing about the Gospel is that it triumphs over shame. In a way, the Gospel takes us back to the Garden of Eden, before there was sin, in which Adam and Eve “were both naked, and they felt no shame.” (Gen 2:25) It was true that they were naked physically before each other and felt no shame, but what is more amazing is that they were naked spiritually before God and they felt no shame. God knew everything they had ever thought, said or did and yet they had no shame, because they were sinless.
Three times in the book of Romans, we are told that “everyone who believes in (Christ) will not be put to shame.” (Rom 10:11) Paul is reminding us that on the Day of Judgment, we will stand before God, completely spiritually naked. Nothing we have ever thought, said or done will be hidden from His knowledge and yet those who “believe in Christ will not be put to shame” because through Jesus sacrifice on the cross, your sins have been transferred to Christ. What is more, Jesus righteousness has been transferred to you. For those who believe, on that Day, God will look at you and He will see Jesus. He will look at you as if you had never, ever, ever, ever sinned and you will be unashamed.