The Hollow We Hide In

Lyric:

“Shame and guilt, birthed from a fall,

These twins have me hiding in things that You made.”

Scripture:

“At that moment their eyes were opened, and they suddenly felt shame at their nakedness. So they sewed fig leaves together to cover themselves.”

Genesis 3:7 (NLT)

Every red carpet asks the same question: “Who are you wearing?”

At the Met Gala, designers spend millions just to show the world what someone has on. But the Bible’s first fashion statement wasn’t glamorous—it was desperate. When Adam and Eve sinned, the first thing they did was grab fig leaves to cover themselves.

The text says, “their eyes were opened.” That word doesn’t just mean eyesight; it means perception. They suddenly saw differently, but what they perceived first wasn’t wisdom—it was shame. Then it says, “they knew they were naked.” That’s the same word used earlier when they were “naked and unashamed.” Their bodies hadn’t changed. Their perspective had. Innocence turned into exposure.

And what did they do? They stitched together fig leaves. The word for “coverings” points to makeshift belts—temporary, fragile, barely holding things together. In other words, they tried to fix the problem themselves. But fig leaves wither. They can’t erase guilt or silence shame.

We do the same thing. We dress ourselves in things that can’t cover us:

• Success, to look accomplished.

• Relationships, to look secure.

• Religion, to look righteous.

• Work or creativity, to look purposeful.

It’s our modern-day hollow tree. We hide in the very things God made—good things—but they were never meant to cover us.

Here’s the hope: God steps in as the true Designer. Genesis 3:21 says He made garments for Adam and Eve—something far more complete and enduring than their fragile leaves. Later, Isaiah 61:10 says He clothes us with garments of salvation and robes of righteousness. And at the cross, Jesus took on our shame so we could be clothed in His perfection.

God isn’t asking, “Who are you wearing?” He’s offering His own wardrobe. Grace is the only garment that never fades, never rips, and never goes out of style.

Timothy Keller once wrote:

“The gospel is this: We are more sinful and flawed in ourselves than we ever dared believe, yet at the very same time, more loved and accepted in Jesus Christ than we ever dared hope.”

Reflection

What are you trying to “wear” right now to cover your shame?

What outfit are you hiding behind that God is asking you to trade for His grace?

Prayer

Lord, I admit I’ve tried to cover myself in the wrong things—success, people’s approval, even my own attempts to look good. Thank You for offering me garments of salvation that never wear out. Dress me in Your grace today, and help me walk in the freedom of being fully covered by You.

In Jesus’ name, Amén.