[This post is in a weekly devotional series called Everything New. Sign up here if you’re interested.]
The prophet Isaiah put it this way: “For our offenses are many in your sight, and our sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we acknowledge our iniquities: rebellion and treachery against the LORD, turning our backs on God, fomenting oppression and revolt, uttering lies our hearts have conceived” (Isaiah 59:12-13).
Notice the key to the lock here: acknowledge.
In one breath, the prophet lays out a glossary of sin (offense, iniquity, rebellion, treachery, oppression, revolt, lies), and he establishes that we sin in thought (what the heart conceives), word (lies), and deed (all the rest). “Thought, word, and deed” is a way of talking about the whole of our lives. It is a way of saying, “God, I need my whole life to be exposed to your healing touch. I need to be honest about my transgressions that are overt acts, those that are careless words, and those that are imaginings which spring from secret motives.”
We can be thankful that sin, in its essence, is the negation of what is good. It is the “-less” or the “un-” of the created order: lovelessness, lawlessness, godlessness, unbelief, thanklessness, disobedience, faithlessness–in other words, darkness. Why be thankful about that? Because sin has no existence in and of itself. Go into a dark room, turn on a light, and the darkness disappears. “The darkness is passing and the true light is already shining” (1 John 2:8).
I’ve met many people who feel utterly hopeless about their faults and transgressions. They feel terrible that they keep disappointing God, and they wonder whether anything will ever be different. And this is key: they view their mistakes as an essential part of who they are rather than a good gone wrong.
Sin must be taken seriously. This disconnect from God is the universal condition of the human race, as Scripture makes abundantly clear: “There is no one who does not sin” (1 Kings 8:46); “No one living is righteous before you” (Psalm 143:2); “Who can say, ‘I have kept my heart pure; I am clean and without sin’?” (Proverbs 20:9); “the whole world is a prisoner of sin” (Galatians 3:22); “We all stumble in many ways. If anyone is never at fault in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to keep his whole body in check” (James 3:2); “If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us” (1 John 1:8).
But, on the other hand, we must keep remembering that mankind was made “in the image of God.” Good. More than that, very good.
We must be honest about our failings and our sins–otherwise we will never find forgiveness and healing. But no one should ever think his or her essential identity is darkness. Christ is the light, and he wants to shine in our lives. [More on that, next time.]
What do you think?
[This post is in a weekly devotional series called Everything New. Sign up here if you’re interested.]
This message really enlightens my mind and I believe is time for us to acknowledge our wrongs before the Lord and He as the Lord of hearts ll show us mercy. We can’t save ourselves because sinning is our nature, we are born with a seed of sin in our hearts. So I think the cure for this is just to admit that we are evil and The Lord will unburden us as we confess our sins before Him.
I think all do things they a.re sorry for latter but they MUST confess them and if possible apoligize
for them
Thank you Jesus. For without you there would be no hope for forgiveness of anykind of sin.
I needed that I’m dealing with a spirtual war fare with the flesh and that’s what I prayed, just this morning for a word from the Lord and here this was in my e-mail box. I can’t buy the book right now,but when I’m able I will.
Thanks again.
This idea of shining has been rolling around in my mind. A devotional I read ended this way, “Shine through your cracks”. For some reason it made me so very sad I wanted to cry. But what I realized is that sin (mine and others’ who have touched my life) causes me to crack and be broken and I try to hold those cracks together with many different things and what happens is this black, yucky sticky goey stuff gets in those cracks. It’s so hard to get out! But, if I let Jesus in and allow Him to chip away at the “goo” I stuffed in the cracks – as painful and as uncomfortable as that may be – light will shine out of my cracks and breaks! And even though the cracks are exposed and I feel as though I may crumble, I will still hold together because it is Jesus who is sustaing my breaks and cracks and it is His light shining through me. The hard part is allowing him to do His transforming work in those cracks and breaks – facing the pain and the discomfort. That’s where I am at.
We all sin. What we all can’t do is find the forgiveness that is dispensed through the love and the blood of Jesus. How many times I have felt I am “less” than because I lose my sight of who I am in Christ. I have at times thought to join Paul and say what a miserable wretch of a (wo)man am I. At that moment if I don’t know who I am, I can fall in a deep distress. But when I keep my eyes on Jesus and know that He forgives and loves, I can press on with a surety that though I fall, He picks me up. We should do the same with others.
It was OK this time. Not the best.
Honest to God- exactly what I needed to hear from God this morning. Straight to the point, no sugar-coating, but so assuring of the Love God has for us.
THANK YOU, I pray that this message will always be with me, that I never forget it and that I make this a continuous practice in my life – to be Honest to God.
I think this is perfect for anyone doing the Twelve Steps, especially Steps 4 and 5.
This is something I’ve been struggling with over the last couple years as I’ve continued to walk closer to God thru his word. I’ve prayed for God to direct and guide me away from sin, and He has. But there are times I still find myself with sin all around and struggle.
This posting surely has helped.
Blessings
Jeff
Thank goodness for forgiveness. We are essentially in need of a savior and our God always. Thank you Lord for being there when I wasn’t.
Hi,
I thank God that I found out that My darkness is not eternal!! My prayer has been answered ,,I see the darkness in me( my evils and sins ) because He loves me. That in its self always blows me away!! My heart rushes and I am slowly getting a grip on His love for me. I want to because,, I really want to share and be a good wittness.. I just cant sem to find the words.. I may not know the good I do for others in case I become boastful!! The LORD knows me and is in control, He provides and protects.. AND He sheds light on what He is working on in me to be the person He wants me to be!! He loves all of us that much..I did not know love until I accpted Love from Jesus..Every day its more and more Love!! Blows me away!! I just have to learn to use it to step out of the boat!! And All in His time..Be still and patient and wait!!
This is a very good one, a real zinger. Many more need to read this and think seriously about the message it sends.
Thank you!!!!!
We have an advocate with our father, his son Jesus Christ. We must not presumsiously sin, however we must not dispair and stay in our sin if we fall, but repent and strive for perfection in Christ.
I think that “whom the son sets free is free indeed”. We need to truly know who we are in Christ, that when we sin, and it happens to all of us, when we ask for forgiveness, IT IS DONE, and God has chosen to forget – what mercy. Holding onto our guilt/shame when we’ve asked for forgiveness looks as if we don’t trust that God wants to or can forgive us. We can’t be doubleminded. Otherwise, we allow the enemy to keep us in bondage instead of us opening the prison door and walking out, our debt already long ago paid in full.
‘Honest to God’ this was an awesome devotional! In our Prayer Cell and Bible Study Ministry, we happen to be studying in 1 John 2 (Tues. evenings). I thoroughly enjoyed this … as a believer it causes one to do some ‘spiritual introspection.’ We also need to thank God that ‘Jesus IS the light!’
Keep up the great, Kingdom building work!
‘Honest to God’ this was an awesome devotional! In our Prayer Cell and Bible Study Ministry, we happen to be studying in 1 John 2 (Tues. evenings). I thoroughly enjoyed this … as a believer it causes one to do some ‘spiritual introspection.’ We also need to thank God that ‘Jesus IS the light!’
Keep up the great, Kingdom-building work!
Sin has no power other than that whch we give it by aligning ourselves with the prince of this earth.In doing so we betray the grace, truth, and love of the Father, and the Son.