When Adam and Eve sinned in the garden their eyes were opened to a new, fallen world.  They realized they were naked, but instead of crying out for mercy, they did what all of humanity does when overwhelmed by guilt and shame: they tried to help themselves.  They began sewing fig leaves together in an attempt to cover their depravity.  Once covered by the glory of God, Adam and Eve now wore the self-righteous cloaks of their own works. 

     They thought the fig leaves would suffice, and by their own standards, perhaps they did. However, when the presence of God came upon Adam and his wife, they trembled and hid themselves amongst the trees.  Their works satisfied the requirements of one another, but the fig leaves would never satisfy God.

     God, in His mercy and grace, changed their wardrobe, fur coats if you will.  A sacrifice was made to cover the sinfulness of the first man and woman, and such a sacrifice is still required today.

     Christ, the perfect Lamb of God was slain in our place because our works of self-righteousness can never satisfy the holiness of God.  By grace we can take off the failed fig leaves and put on the Lord Jesus Christ.