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Sin Is Never Private
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs” (Luke 12:2-3 NIV).
One thing we all have in common is that we are sinners and all fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23). Most people work very hard to keep their sin a secret. Indeed, we may be successful at keeping most, or even all, of our sins secret but it is foolish to think that sin is private. Some sins are revealed here on earth, but many are not.
Our entire lives will be judged when we die, and most assuredly even the sins that remained private on earth will be revealed. Scripture teaches that everyone who has ever lived will be there (heaven) in their resurrected bodies. Jesus separates the sheep on His right; the goats on His left (Matthew 25:32, 33). There is but one judgment day (Revelation 11:18). Both the saved and lost will be judged (Romans 14:10, 2 Corinthians 5:10).
Perhaps the most sobering verse in the Bible is Numbers 43:23, “You may be sure that your sin will find you out.”
Our sin also has consequences here on earth. All of our actions, good or bad, are going to affect both directions on the cross. Our sins separate us from God, which is the vertical axis. And all of our actions, including sins, affect other people, directly or indirectly.
Not all sins are due to commission. Some sins are an act of omission. If a person that regularly plugs into God through worship, prayer, study, service, and tithing and then stops, there will be a change in this person. The “lens” on how they view the world will change as manifested in how they react to people and situations and how they reflect (or don’t) the Fruits of the Spirit. They have omitted God from their life and are no longer connected to the Vine. A person that is not plugged in, does not have spiritual power nor desire to fight sin. Romans 14:7 teaches about our connectivity to each other. “None of us lives for ourselves alone, and none of us dies for ourselves alone.”
A lot of people will say, “What I do with my life is my business. As long as I’m not hurting anybody, why should anyone else care?” Our sins are hurting other people. God made us to be connected to other people. We are one Body and what we do and say always has an effect on others. We hurt ourselves and distance ourselves from God with sin, particularly unrepentant sin. A sinful life limits our ability to reach our potential, the impact we can have on the Kingdom, and the blessing that comes from a life lived in and for our Lord and Savior.
There is only one way to move past the sin that clings so tightly. Confess it, repent from it, and abide in the love of the Father.
Prayer: Dear God, Thank you for the victory that we have over sin and death through the blood of Your Son. Send your Spirit to reveal to us the sin that separates us from You and give us the strength to repent from that sin so that we may grow closer to You on this earth and be presented holy and blameless to You upon the day that we are Healed. We love you and need you. Amen.
Meet the Author
Todd Shupe is a Men’s Ministry Specialist through the General Commission of United Methodist Men and a Certified Lay Speaker with the Louisiana Conference of the United Methodist Church.
He is a Board Member for Gulf South Men, an Action Team member for The Kingdom Group, and a Board Member for the Lagniappe Country Walk to Emmaus. Todd is a Past President of the Baton Rouge District of United Methodist Men and remains active in this and many other local, regional, and international ministries. Todd is the proud father of Emma and Kyle and resides in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Additionally, he’s the author of the inspiring book “Fathering A Special Needs Child.” Todd also enjoys filling the pulpit for pastors to share the Good News of our Lord and Savior.
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