Shall Be Heard In The Light…

Shall Be Heard In The Light…

Confession and repentance comes in a multitude of forms. We can confess to stealing something from a grocery store, a neighbor or a stranger. Taking drugs is stealing from your family and community. Selling your body for money represents a multitude of sin and possibly transgressions against a host of people.

We can make restitution in whatever form it may take based on our actions or the request of the person harmed. Our repentance could be finished at that point or we could take it a step further. As David teaches us in Psalm 51 it is God whom we have sinned against, not another person or institution.

For I acknowledge my transgressions:
And my sin is ever before me.
Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight:
That thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. ~ Psalm 51:3-4 KJB

This is one of the clearest verses in the Holy Bible regarding our transgressions, sin and repentance. There are a great many situations throughout the Holy Bible describing sin, confession and repentance. They are likely very plentiful for a reason!

We sometimes “cross a line” without realizing the damage we are causing, not only to an individual, but we could impact an entire community with one simple selfish act. Transgressions, sins, can always be worked out, so long as we own them. It is when we attempt to cover them up or “hide them” is when the real trouble starts. Remember, Jesus teaches us that which is hidden will exposed and shouted from the rooftop. Somethings are better not to be shouted from the rooftop!

For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known. Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops. ~ Luke 12:2-3 KJB

When Abraham and Sarah approached Abimelech did Abraham lie about who Sarah is to him? Abraham claims that Sarah is his sister and doesn’t say that she is his wife. This situation causes a lot of problems for Abimelech and his community.

Then Abimelech called Abraham, and said unto him, What hast thou done unto us? and what have I offended thee, that thou hast brought on me and on my kingdom a great sin? thou hast done deeds unto me that ought not to be done. And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What sawest thou, that thou hast done this thing? ~ Genesis 20:9-10 KJB

Abraham is now at a crossroads – continue to lie or own his trash and confess what has happened. This is the point we all reach at some time in our life. Hopefully, it is reached when we are still young and trying to learn how be a Godly person, how to be a responsible person in the community and learn about humility. Can you imagine how humiliated Abraham must’ve been when Abimelech called him out? This is the exact point in which we can either come clean, accept what we have done, along with the consequences or we can perpetuate the sin.

And Abraham said, Because I thought, Surely the fear of God is not in this place; and they will slay me for my wife’s sake. And yet indeed she is my sister; she is the daughter of my father, but not the daughter of my mother; and she became my wife. ~ Genesis 20:11-12

It is taking ownership of our transgressions, our sins, that redemption is possible. God, along with Godly people, can be forgiving, loving and generous in our confession of sin.

And Abimelech said, Behold, my land is before thee: dwell where it pleaseth thee. And unto Sarah he said, Behold, I have given thy brother a thousand pieces of silver: behold, he is to thee a covering of the eyes, unto all that are with thee, and with all other: thus she was reproved. ~ Genesis 20:15-16 KJB

While it can be one of the hardest things we do, it can also be one of the most rewarding things we ever do. To be fully restored by God because we confess and repent is one of the strongest professions of faith that we can make before God and before another human being in the presence of God. When we deny ourselves this blessing we are denying ourselves the full restorative blessings from God Himself of which we have no idea what form that blessing will be.

Either the Scripture is the divine Word of God teaching us how to live and how to be a reflection of God, or it’s nothing more than a historical account of events.