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In Psalm 19 David asked God to forgive him for his hidden errors, and I suggest that we need to do the same thing—to ask God to show us any hidden sins we just don’t see. But what about those areas of sin that we try to hide? When we knowingly cover up sin in our lives, we are asking for trouble.
Proverbs 28:13 tells us that he who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy. I believe with all my heart that many Christians are floundering and ineffective for Jesus because they try to conceal their sins. It’s one thing to have errors in our life that are hidden to us, but it’s a far more serious problem for us to try to cover up our errors.
Think right now: Are you finding it difficult to prosper in what you’re doing? Now, by prosper I don’t mean get rich, but I mean find success. How’s your job going? Are you prospering in your work? Are your relationships prospering, doing well? Is your ministry for Jesus going forward and making progress?
If not, check it out. If you’re covering up some sin in your life, you are asking for failure. God cannot bless us when we cover-up. God will not be involved in cover-ups. God will expose our cover-ups if we continue to try to hide them.
Someone has said that rarely do any of us change without pain, and I guess that’s true. But it shows we’re not very smart, doesn’t it? I mean, if you know that you can’t prosper by covering up your sin, and you know that God will deal with it if you don’t, doesn’t it just make sense to confess that sin, renounce it and find God’s mercy? The Bible says if we judge ourselves we will not be judged.
Do yourself one big favor: Uncover those cover-ups. Confess to God any areas of willful sin, and ask for his mercy. Commit to him that you are renouncing that sin and by his grace you will not return to it. When you do that, God is then able to prosper you in everything you do and in all your relationships. Just makes good common sense, doesn’t it?