“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.” Luke 8:17 NIV
I used to think that as long as I kept my sin to myself it didn’t affect anyone else. I worked hard to keep my sin a secret. I believed that as long as I didn’t cause anyone else to stumble that I was doing what Christ wanted me to do. As long as no one knew what my secret life was like, I was okay in my sin. After all, Christians weren’t supposed to struggle with sin; that was for the non-believers, right? What would people think if they knew what I was doing when no one was around?
What I failed to realize is that whatever goes in always comes out. By hiding my sin, I lived a lie. Because I was living a lie, I began to lie. But lying was just the tip of the iceberg. I was spending so much time corrupting my mind with inappropriate images and thoughts that I soon found myself lusting during the day. I was never satisfied with anything in my life. I also became extremely judgmental and negative. Other sins became second nature, too, and no matter how “good” I was at creating a “perfect” façade, eventually the sinful me began oozing out into everything I did and onto everyone around.
I heard a radio DJ this week share that there is no such thing as private sin because ultimately we collapse inwardly. I totally agree. What happens is sin becomes our foundation instead of Jesus. It doesn’t matter if we are still connected with church or even “churchy” things; if we have replaced our heart’s foundation with sin, then the carefully placed blocks of our life will come tumbling down with the smallest quake. We may have changed everything we do in public, but if we haven’t surrendered our secret life or the motivation of our hearts then our lives are destined to crumble.
I think about the story in Matthew 7:24-27, “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
I don’t know about you, but I want to do whatever it takes to build my house on the Rock. I can’t keep sinning and also follow Christ. It’s an either/or. Until I confess my sins and bring them into the light, there will always be a steady inward collapse. There may only be glimpses of structural damage, but ultimately my house will fall.
Oh God, here I am. All of me. Even my sin of _____________that I keep hidden from others and often deny even exists. I can’t have a solid life if my heart is filled with sin. Give me the strength and the desire to be different. Give me the focus to fight for what is right. Change my heart and empty me of anything that separates me from you. I can’t stop my sin alone. I can’t beat this by myself. Please bring a support system of believers into my life and constantly remind me to turn to you when I’m tempted to give in.
Spend time listening to the words of this song:
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