The first sin in human history led the first couple to blame each other and then to accuse God. They started seeing things from a human perspective, not in God’s light. This led them to take things into their own hands without humbling themselves under God’s mighty hand after they had disobeyed. They gathered some fig leaves to put them together as a covering. Very smart. But neither effective, nor sufficient. God cannot be fooled. In Scripture, figs illustrate human actions in righteousness before God. We know from God’s Word that such efforts must fail when done in self-will. Only God can provide the means that will satisfy His rights.

Those means must meet His holy standards of divine righteousness. Was it right to present themselves before God in their fallen condition? Adam knew that their efforts were not sufficient because even with the cover of the aprons they had made, he confessed that he was “naked” before God. Very sobering! With all our good works or self-righteous efforts, we will not be able to build a foundation on which we can stand before a holy and righteous God! Think of Israel after the golden calf: they had said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do,” but had quickly degenerated into idolatry and obscenity.

The history of the Church at large does not present us with a better picture. Amid such failures, the solution is not to try and build something new but, rather, to identify and confess those failures, in humility and self-judgment. Let us study Church history, especially from God’s perspective (Rev. 2–3), confess our failures, and cast ourselves on the Lord. Let us ask His direction and help from the Scriptures, in fellowship with Him, relying on His Spirit. Let us be ready for His soon coming.