“Let us examine our ways and test them, and let us return to the Lord.” (Lamentations 3:40)
Secrets: as a kid they are fun. Telling “secrets” to your best friend and only the two of you know; laughing together in acknowledgement of the information only the two of you are privy to. Secrets: as an adult can be terrifying, especially if the secret hides a sin. What if someone finds out? I can’t tell them because they will think less of me. What if they won’t like me anymore? What if I lose my job? Secrets are never secret from the Lord.
The funny thing about “secrets” is that most of us have that in common. The one thing in our life that we think will separate us from friends and even family, is probably the one thing that will inevitably draw us closer together: if we are willing to share.
Secrets can be fuel for the fire if you are satan; how satisfying it must be for him when we hold on to our struggles. When we are worried about what others will think of us, he can keep telling us lies, and we are in a vulnerable state so we listen. You’re not really a Christian if you can’t control your desires. They aren’t going to like you anymore if they know the truth. They aren’t going to respect you ever again once they know what you have done. It’s easier to hide the truth than to let it out… It’s all a bunch of hogwash. This is what the devil wants you to believe in order to keep you from overcoming your obstacle; to keep you listening to him; to keep you his prisoner; to keep you away from God.
Ephesians 6 states to put on the full armor of God in order to stand against the devil’s schemes; for our struggle is not against flesh and blood but against the powers of darkness. We may think our struggle comes only from within – when in actuality we are at war with evil.
You’re not really a Christian if you can’t control your desires. Much as we hate to admit it, even if we are a Christian, we are still a sinner: Once a sinner always a sinner (Romans 3:23). The thing about sin is it’s all the same to God. Whether we curse His name in vain, covet the neighbor’s car, think lustfully about someone other than our spouse, commit murder out of anger, or tell a lie, sin is sin is sin to God. It all requires acknowledgement, repentance and the asking of forgiveness. Sometimes we can do this quietly just between ourselves and God, and other times we need an accountability partner: someone to pray with us and for us, and to hold us accountable for our actions in order to really exercise change. If God expected us to do it all alone, He wouldn’t have said through the apostle Paul these words in Ephesians 6:1, 2, “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” Restore him gently: not shake your fist and beat the truth into him. Watch yourself: we can all succumb to the same temptations. Carry each other’s burdens: can’t do that if we don’t know what they are. We are all human, and God put us here to help one another. We all go through trials for many different reasons including to learn to depend on the Lord and to learn to help others through a similar trial later.
They aren’t going to like you anymore if they know the truth. Jesus knows the truth about us, and He died for us. What more can I say? If we are striving to be Christ-like, we should choose love over condemnation. God has instructed us not to judge our neighbor for there is only one judge: God himself (James 4:12). More often than not, sharing the truth about a struggle within ourselves draws us closer to that person because on some level we can all relate to conflicting thoughts and actions. It’s a relief to know “we’re not in this alone.” Satan is the one who wants us to think we are in it alone, and strives to keep us divided.
They aren’t going to respect you ever again once they know what you have done. Am I perfect? No. Am I prone to make mistakes? Yes. Am I forgiven? Yes, through Christ’s blood. Personally, I have more respect for the person willing to share their weakness, than for the one who wants everyone to think their life is “perfect.” Weakness makes us human. Weakness brings us together (because we are all weak). Weakness teaches us. Weakness wins us the grace and mercy of our heavenly Father who knows just how weak we are. Romans 5:8 says, “But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us”. Weakness is the way God’s strength is made perfect (II Cor 12:9).
It’s easier to hide the truth than to let it out… I’m willing to bet this is one of satan’s favorite lies to tell. If you’ve ever hidden a lie, you know how truly hard it is to do. When lie compounds upon lie, it’s hard to discern what is truth and what is fiction: what on earth did I say the last time? If we can’t hide things from God, why should we try to hide them from ourselves or from one another? Satan wants us to hide them, to keep our weaknesses to ourselves so he can exploit them. Why? Because Jesus said, “Where two or three come together in my name, there I am with them.” (Matthew 18:20) Jesus also said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” (John 8:31, 32)
Are you satan’s prisoner? Are you in bondage to a lie he wants you to believe? The Lord is able to keep you from falling (Jude 24) and able to do immeasurably more than you could ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20). You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength (Philippians 4:13). Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” (Matthew 11:28)
“Now that you know God – or rather are known by God – how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable principles? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again?” (Galatians 4:9) “You, my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge in the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love.” (Galatians 5:13)
“Be very careful, then, how you live – not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.” (Ephesians 5:15, 16) “Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground.” (Ephesians 6:13a) “Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things.” (Colossians 3:2) “ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” (Colossians 3:9-10) “Whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” (Colossians 3:17)
“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another…” (Hebrews 10:23-25a)
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.” (James 4:7) “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16a) “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (James 1:22)
Lisa Gopp
March 20, 2007