SECRET SIN
The Israelites secretly did things against the Lord their God that were not right. –II Kings 17:9
They did wicked things that aroused the Lord’s anger. —II Kings 17:11
How many times have we heard of people living a dualistic life? In the light, when they are seen, they appear to live one way, but in the dark, when no one is around that knows them, they act totally different. They have “secret” sins being hidden from those they do not what to know.
In the context of the verses above the Israelites were practicing secret sins against the Lord, wicked things that angered Him. How foolish we are if we think we are hiding our secret sins from the Lord God Almighty. Psalm 90:8 says “You spread out our sins before you–our secret sins–and you see them all.” He knows them all and nobody is getting away with anything… nobody.
It is so exciting to know that forgiveness is always available to us, but first we have to confess our sin to the Lord God Almighty. Confession is agreeing with Him that we have trespassed, that we have crossed the line and done what He has commanded us not to (sins of commission) or that we have not done what He has commanded us to (sins of omission).
Secret sins… many times we may think of dark things people do, but how about the religious cloak we put on without really being faithful to the Lord. We may say, “Amen, amen” to some message we hear on forgiving others, loving each other, encouraging other, making disciple, sharing the gospel or some other area where we know that the Lord wants me to be obedient in, yet secretly I do not obey and those who know me in the light do not know what I am not doing or should be doing in the dark when they do not see me. Do we usually think of these things as being secret sins— we don’t want people to know?
The context of the verse above revolves around false religious practices. “Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world” (James 1:27). Helping children without parents, helping widows in need and not being polluted by the world’s immorality— God accepts this religion as “pure and faultless.” The above verses show us that the Israelites were polluted by false religious practices done in secret.
Are you involved with secret sin, seeking to hide what you are doing or not doing from others? You need to repent—turn from it, confess it and be faithful to what the Lord desires. “But if you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord; and you may be sure that your sin will find you out” (Numbers 32:23). Sin will bring its consequences in time. Oh, that we would confess any secret sin, get right with the Lord, experience His forgiveness and be faithful in the shadows and faithful in the light. May it be so!
Dear Father, please show me any faults or sins that are in my life and may I repent from them, confess them to You and seek to be and do what is right in Your sight. May it be so in Jesus’ authority. Thank You for forgiveness!