Walter Albritton September 15, 2013 Ever wonder if some deed is a sin? Fret no more. Sin is easy to identify. It always begs to be hidden. Sin causes people to pray. If you are sleeping with your neighbor’s wife you pray constantly that no one will find out what you are doing. If you are stealing money from the company you pray you won’t get caught. The father who is sexually abusing his child will have a desperate desire for his evil deed not to become known. The child stealing from his mother’s purse will always do so when no one is looking. The Bible speaks of the “hidden” desires of our sinful nature. After King David committed adultery with Bathsheba he arranged for her husband Uriah to be killed. His fear of being found out led him to commit murder. David thought the death of Uriah would keep his sin in the dark. He was mistaken. His sin was exposed when Nathan pointed his finger at him and declared, “Thou art the man!” Fortunately the shame of being discovered led David into genuine repentance. Sin is associated with darkness. We speak of our “sin-darkened” world. Evil fears the light of day so most crimes are committed “under cover of darkness.” God, John says, is light and in Him “there is no darkness.” Jesus is the light of the world and light “overwhelms” darkness. Light reveals. Darkness conceals. Stanley Jones tells of being called out at night to talk with a man who was waiting to see him in the garden. The man held a handkerchief over his face so Jones would not recognize him. He wanted Jones to help him find power to overcome an addictive habit. Jones said he left the man with little hope that he would change. Here is his comment about the poor man who feared being recognized: “Off with the handkerchief! Come out of dark gardens where the timid hide behind bushes. Stand before the world, open and decisive. Be ashamed of nothing but sin. Commit yourself.” Transparency is a characteristic of Christians. When you know your sins have been forgiven you have nothing to hide. When you accept the fact that you are accountable to God, and that he loves you unconditionally, you no longer fear being “found out” by others. You enjoy the light and have no need to hide in the darkness. No wonder the Psalmist said, “The Lord is my light and my salvation.” accountable No wonder How interesting it is that a word may be used to convey different meanings. Sin begs to be hidden. But the Psalmist said, “Your word have I hidden in my heart that I might not sin against you.” So we are wise if what is hidden in our lives is the Word of God and not our sins. Enjoy the light of day – and be at peace about the night! + + +