Proverbs 15:18 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight.
As they are leaving the garden, Eve says to Adam, “Now that was a mistake.”
Fessing up is so hard to do. It sounds like a song. ♪♫ Fessing up ♫ ♪♫ is so hard ♪ to doooo.♫♪ I was watching a news channel and there it was again, another superstar apologizing for a mistake he had made by getting caught in the act of adultery. Adultery is not a mistake, it is sin.
A mistake is when you should have taken the next exit off the highway and you have to go farther to turn around and fix the mistake. A mistake is showing up a day early for a doctor’s appointment. A mistake is pulling up to the gas pump and realizing you left your wallet in your other jacket. Getting caught in bed in flagrante delicto with another person, other than your spouse, is adultery, not a mistake. Prov. 28:13 He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.
I remember thinking if the superstar would just fess-up and call the sin what it is then the mercy of God would start bringing real healing to his dysfunctional marriage, but as long as he kept calling the sin a mistake, the super falling star and his lawyer would be in media spin mode while getting a big divorce-settlements written up. The only one who wins here is the lawyer.
In the 2008-2009 market crash era, the popular perp walk gave us all kinds of looks and colorful excuses for all the mistakes and small indiscretions these soon to be felons got caught up in. No one had actually stolen anything, it was just a mistake they had done. These money managers just wanted some time and they would be able to show everyone that it was a simple accounting error and not embezzlement as the charges stated.
It was all just a mistake and not the sin of theft. Of course the courts proved that it was not a small accounting error, but widespread theft. Isa. 5:20 Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! 21 Woe unto them that are wise in their own eyes, and prudent in their own sight!
In the book of Second Samuel, there is the familiar story of Uriah’s wife Bathsheba who is having an adulterous relationship with King David. Then King David organizes the murder of Uriah to cover up the pregnancy of Bathsheba who had conceived in the adultery with King David. It sounds like a soap-opera of “As The Kingdom Turns.”
God sends the prophet Nathan to confront David concerning his sin of murder and adultery. 2 Sam. 12:1-A And the LORD sent Nathan unto David. Nathan, through the Holy Spirit, tells a parable of justice to King David and David ends up sentencing himself. 2 Sam 12:7-A And Nathan said to David, Thou art the man. The interesting thing is David confesses and admits his sin and immediately restoration begins to happen. 2 Sam 12:13 And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die.
Were there consequences for the sins David and Bathsheba committed? Yes, but there was also mercy and grace. The principle in proverbs started working right away. Prov. 28:13 He that covers his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesses and forsakes them shall have mercy.
The moment we stop minimising our sins as irrelevant in the presence of God and confess them for the iniquity they are, the sooner the healing balm of the Holy Spirit will get to work on our souls and bodies healing all parts of our lives. His grace and eternal sacrifice have washed away every sin and iniquity if we accept that sacrifice in our hearts.
The real mistake in all of these cover-up scenarios is the unwillingness or inability to confess the transgression as sin. Fessing up is hard to do, but it is the only way to get rid of the shame and guilt that eats away at our souls through our conscience. The moment we confess is the moment our prayers become God’s delight.
The self-deprecating antics of these superstars confessing to “just a mistake” leads them on a path to self-hatred and denial. The sin never becomes something they can overcome, because in a short time they are doing it again and the only one prospering is the lawyer.
A book I recommend everyone read is Counterfeit Gods by Timothy Keller. In this book, Timothy says, “Fear based repentance makes us hate ourselves but joy base repentance makes us hate the sin.” It is the joy of the Lord that is our strength, not the elaboration of a spun story that gets us through life. Neh. 8:10b For the joy of the LORD is your strength. Let us be slow to rationalize our sins and quick to confess them that we may be blessed in the grace of our Savior Jesus Christ. Heb. 6:3 And this will we do, if God permit.
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Good preaching Norm
Great article!!