Secrets

Monday, January 20, 2020
You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence. Psalm 90:8

Secrets

Secrets. Sometimes secrets are exciting, but sometimes they can be no fun at all. These secrets are the ones that you hold inside for fear of anyone ever finding out the truth.  You fear rejection, judgment from peers, and the destruction of your character.  They can destroy trust, love, and intimacy.  They can tear down self-esteem and self-respect. Most importantly, they can separate you from God.

We all have secrets and we all have secret sins.  It may be a heart issue like an attitude or hate towards someone, or it may be something bigger – on the outside.  We may feel that we are ok because, after all no one knows about my secret sin but me, so therefore I am not hurting anyone else or affecting their lives in any way.  But two people know – you and God. It is hidden – but it’s not.   Psalm 66:18 warns us of one consequence of secret sin.  “If I regard iniquity in my heart the Lord will not hear me”.  In other words, if you have a cherished secret sin that you habitually hold on to, it will hurt your connection to God.

Last week we talked about the woman at the well.  She lived with the burden of her sin which was definitely not a secret.  That is why she came to the well when she did – because no one else would be there.  But she wasn’t alone at the well because Jesus knew when she would be there, and He went specifically to meet her.  God always comes.  He always knows, even when we think we are keeping it a secret.  It is never a secret to Him

When we have sin in our lives, it never feels good for long because there is something in us that contradicts the sin we are involved in and that is Jesus Christ.  It is a contradiction to who we are in Him and who He is trying to help us become.  Sin is never a part of God’s perfect plan for our lives.  It doesn’t belong there and therefore it causes sorrow and pain.  It may feel good at first and we may be able to talk ourselves into believing its ok, especially with secret sins, but the reality is that it causes a separation between us and God. There is danger of living an incomplete Christian life where Jesus Christ is Lord everywhere but in our secret lives.  Sin will eventually awake from sleep and shake off its cover. If not for the saving grace of the Master’s hand, sin would eat us alive.

What is it that has that hold on your life?  What shackles you and keeps you from being free?  Whatever it is, it is keeping you from moving forward in your spiritual growth and experiencing the power and blessings of God. Let it go. God loves us and shows us mercy and forgiveness.  You may be fooling the rest of the world, but He sees your heart.  There is no where you can go to hide from Him and there is no secret He does not know.  But He loves us with unconditional, everlasting love anyway.  He is our advocate and savior. He is our rescuer and protector. Quit whatever it is that has a hold on you.  Confess to Him and claim this amazing grace now.