Who Told You That You Were Naked?

It’s an ancient story but it could just as easily be tomorrow’s headline.

Two related individuals listen to a crafty neighbor rather than their trusted friend.

As a result, they buy into a deception thinking what they gain will make them like God but end up blowing up their lives, taking others down with them.

Details at 11.

I keep running into the story of Adam and Eve (in my Bible, in social media, in books I’m reading, in my relationships, in my mirror) and I’m struck with how little has changed.

There is an all-powerful, creative, loving, beautiful, truthful, holy, merciful, compassionate, kind God who adores us. In fact, He designed us FOR Himself to know and enjoy Him forever.

He offers us eternal life, abundant life, light, direction, healing, forgiveness, truth, and friendship.

Instead, we shop the Internet for snake oil, click on the strange reptile, and listen as he convinces us that same generous God is withholding the best from us. Then we peddle the same poison to our friends.

When it turns out God was right, instead of running to Him for help with our mess, we hide.

He is so loving–He actually comes looking for us. And He rightly asks, “Who told you that you were naked?”

In other words, who else are you listening to? (Yes, I think sometimes God ends His sentences with a preposition because He’s more concerned with communicating clearly than being legalistic about grammar. You may disagree. Peace in the valley.)

I know the frustration of offering wise counsel to someone only to have others override my advice.

Once upon a time, I met weekly with a young mom for parenting education. She’d decide her family goals for that week and we’d discuss a strategy to meet those goals. Week after week I returned to discover she’d abandoned those strategies for other ideas.

Finally, I wised up and asked, “Who told you to abandon those strategies?”

Turns out, a couple of other floundering moms thought my counsel was a bunch of hooey and when they discussed it at the bus stop each week, they counseled other ideas. Those other ideas were going to take this woman straight to family court if we didn’t work it out so I started having my meetings with this mom at the bus stop and she invited her friends into the conversation.

The result? She began to see the wisdom of my strategies because I was able to ask her friends about their situations. Two were already in family court.

What I’ve learned, though, is that God has the same trouble with me that I had with that mother.

This isn’t something I could see in myself so He keeps sending me the story of the day we lost Eden.

And I keep hearing these same four questions (the following conversation is strictly fictional and for illustrative purposes only except for the actual Bible references. It should not be confused with God’s actual words (except the Bible references) and I have no plans to start a new devotional series titled “Jesus Asking.”):

God: “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9)

Me: Um, hanging out in Anxiety Alley. Shopping for snake oil at the corner of Confusion Court and Deception Drive. Bargaining for sufficient cover for my failings over in Justification County.

God: ““Who told you that you were naked?” (Genesis 3:11)

Me: Well, didn’t you see that awful Facebook meme that made reading my Bible sound kind of archaic? And, my friend who is deconstructing showed me some statistics and a chart that made me wonder if I only believe what I believe because I grew up on Main Street. The news is full of anxiety-provoking stories and even though you say not to fret, well, how can I now. And, just the other day I was even telling myself . . .

God: “Have you eaten of the tree of which I commanded you not to eat?” (Genesis 3:11)

Me: Like literally or figuratively because, I’ve been doing this keto diet and I’m sure that fruit is pretty restricted, so . . .

God: Lori.

Me: No, I get. I have been listening to a lot of unwise counsel, mostly because I thought I could handle it better than less mature Christians, but okay, now I see thinking is pretty steeped in pride and okay, I can see where You’re going with this line of questioning. Now that I follow this thought thread back to its origin, I have been listening more to people who deny you or ignore you than I have been listening to You. 

God: “What is this that you have done?” (Genesis 3:13)

Me: Managed to wander into the wrong end of town and doubt that You will supply everything good that I need because I listened to the wrong voices.

God: I love you. There’s no reason to hide.

Me: Besides the fact that you can see through things.

God: There’s that.

So now, whenever I catch myself wandering the wrong streets in my heart or mind, I hear God ask, “Who told you that you were naked?” In other words, where are you getting your information and why are following a path of thinking that leads to shame?

I’ve started asking other people this question. Well, not EXACTLY that question because then conversations would be awkward. Instead, I ask, “Where did you get that information?” or “Who told you that?” or “Where is that thinking coming from? When did it begin?”

In fact, I look in the mirror and ask those questions. I challenge my own thinking to be sure I’m not just repeating a story to myself I heard down at the snake oil market.

God says to take every thought captive but they’re wily, wriggly critters, aren’t they? The wrong thinking can worm its way into our frontal cortex faster than you can say, “Sure, I’ll have a bite of that luscious fruit!”

And it’s no good blaming the snake oil selling deceivers. They’ll be held responsible for their words but we are responsible for our listening. We’re responsible to weigh everything we hear against God’s Word.

Who you gonna listen to? That’s the big question because the story you tell yourself impacts the story you’re living so you’d better line it up with the greatest story ever told.

The truth is hard enough to hear. Sometimes the truth hurts my feelings, my ego, and my plans but that’s no lasting pain compared to the damage deception does–the carnage it leaves behind.

Who convinced you to stray from the truth–then imprisoned you in shame for making the trip? That’s not God, that’s a snake in truth’s clothing.

Choose not to be a headline. Be a long and satisfying story with an ending that is just the beginning of a true adventure.  What story are you telling yourself today? That question can make all the difference.

Thoughts? I’d love to hear from you. I respond to every comment and reply to every email!

On weeks you don’t receive the blog, you’ll find me writing over on the Disturber of Hobbits Substack. I’d love for you to follow me there!

What? Who told you that you were naked? Don’t believe everything you hear. https://t.co/AJRAnT9yQq #Bible #Jesus

— Lori Roeleveld (@lorisroeleveld) June 14, 2024