Proverbs 28:13
He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy. Proverbs 28:13 (NKJV)
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us. (separation from God) 1 John 1:9-10 (NKJV)
The Bible is filled with examples of people who tried to hide from God following sin. Adam and Eve, Job, David several times, and the list goes on. Somehow, it never seemed to work out as they thought at the time.
Since God already knows you, who you are, what you do, and what you need (Matthew 6:8), it’s hard to imagine how anyone who believes could think they could hide from God. Yet we try.
When I was young, I was shooting pigeons with a BB Gun. As one was sitting on a windowsill, (you can guess where this is going), I thought I was a good enough shot to hit the pigeon without hitting the window. I chose poorly. I quickly returned the BBG to the gun cabinet. It was a small little hole – maybe Dad would not notice it. Yet physics betrayed me just as a rock chip on a windshield eventually runs across your line of sight. Bummer – but still, he might not notice it.
I fretted and agonized for over a month worrying when Dad would finally notice it. It was a very long month of anticipation, worry, and fear. Finally, he did, the whopping commenced, BB Gun was lost, and punishment was much worse than if I had just admitted the mistake right away. Although, I think the disappointment in my dad’s eyes that I tried to hide my mistake was the worst part.
I wonder if God feels that same disappointment when we try to hide our sins. We can’t really hide anything from God (Hebrews 4:13). Hiding sins is unhealthy – spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Sin leads to more sins and destroys our relationship with God and others.
1 John 1:5-7 “God is light. Sin is done in darkness, attempting to hide – if you live in the light, where God is, then we have fellowship with each other, Jesus’ blood cleansed us from all sin”
The good news is that confession leads to repentance and turning away from sin and towards God. Confession helps us cleanse our hearts since Jesus has already taken our sins away. Worrying and hiding sins only hurts us and our relationship with God. Jesus has already taken our sins to the cross, so the purpose of confession is about acknowledging our sins so we can reestablish our relationship with God. He is waiting for us to stop hiding in the darkness and return to His light.
Questions for Reflection:
- Have you ever tried to hide from something you knew was wrong?
- Was the fear of disclosure worse than when it was brought into the light?
- Why do we think we can hide anything from God? Was it fear of punishment or embarrassment in acknowledging it to God?
Prayer:
Dear Lord, Please forgive me for not coming to you when I fall short. Thank you for your everlasting forgiveness and love even when I don’t live up to my potential. Help me to grow in my Love of You and others. Amen
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