Wednesday, July 14, 2021 – Just when I think a devotional cannot get stranger, along comes something else to write about. Everything in life is a lesson. Some things teach us what to do. Others teach us what not to do. This devotional comes from the position of the latter.
Today, according to the National Day Calendar, is National Nude Day. Not much is known about the origins of this day other than the fact that it came from New Zealand. The rest of the details are covered up while nothing else is on this day.
Celebrants are encouraged to shed their clothes in places where others of the same mindset have shed theirs – legally nude beaches, naturist resorts, or your fenced in back yard. The reason for finding these places of seclusion and acceptance is because 1) we still have repressive decency laws on the books and 2) the conservative populace is offended by those going au natural. Since they are such prudes, you will have to work around them to celebrate this day.
Those choosing to celebrate this day are encouraged to choose their place of celebration carefully. Due to the summer sun, lots of sunblock is advised. You are encouraged to avoid the nude nature walks because of poison ivy, oak, and sumac as well as the thorns on rose bushes. And should you decide to do something like rollerblading or skateboarding, you should still don the protective gear.
Let’s go back to the original National Nude Day. Genesis 2:8, 22, 25 says, “And the LORD God planted a garden eastward in Eden; and there he put the man whom he had formed… And the rib, which the LORD God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man… And they were both naked, the man and his wife, and were not ashamed.” That’s the way it was originally. This fact cannot be refuted. So why did clothing get invented?
Genesis 3 records the sin of Adam and Eve. Eve ate of the fruit first, gave it to Adam, he ate of the fruit, “And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons.” (Genesis 3:7) The moment that sin enters the picture and their eyes were opened, they saw their own nakedness and recognized that walking around just in what God gave you was sinful. They did their best to cover up but it was inadequate.
After the Lord pronounces the curse of the damages brought on by their sin, the Lord reinforces their first inclination. “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the LORD God make coats of skins, and clothed them.” (Genesis 3:21) God was the first fashion designer. He gave us our original pre-sin garments made of flesh and then, after sin enters the picture, He designs the first real set of clothing.
National Nude Day thumbs its collective noses at what God’s Word clearly teaches. In Philippians 3:18-19, we read, “(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: (19) Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)” Isaiah pronounces “woe” upon those who call evil good and good evil. The celebration and encouragement to publicly shed clothing is ungodly and heathenish.
In certain parts of the world, missionaries will encounter tribal nations that are nude. The moment they trust Jesus as their Savior, they recognize their nudity and start to cover it up. As we are in the depths of summer, so many in our world are walking around nearly nude without shame or a concept of decency. Their nudity, though it be partial, is a revelation of their heart.
Our nudity is necessary for showering and bathing. It is God-blessed and sanctioned between husband and wife. A degree of it may be necessary when going to a doctor, a profession God uses in the healing and care of our bodies. But beyond that, PUT SOME CLOTHES ON! Cover up with modesty and decency.
Otherwise, there’s more than your body being exposed. Your heart is being exposed.
P.S. For obvious reasons, no graphics are used in this devotional 🙂
