FEAR OF EXPOSURE
And this is the judgment, that the light is come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their deeds were evil. John 3:19
Most people don't love the darkness for darkness sake. They prefer it because the alternative is exposure. Ever since Adam and Eve sinned, then went to take cover, we've been prone to hide ever since. We know that we are infected with sin on an intuitive level. Hiding what we know is unacceptable and painting up the exterior to appear attractive has been our way of relating to others and God. So many intelligent people are risking their salvation on their ability to do enough good works to erase their sin problem.
The real tragedy is when God's children hide. We know better. We came to Christ at the cross, repented of our sin, asked Him to forgive us and make us His. We are the ones who know the power of His shed blood and how much we are in desperate need of it to be washed white as snow. Why is it that we can admit a general sense of sinfulness for salvation but deny a specific, daily sort of sinfulness? We can be saved yet hide the rest of our lives for fear of exposure in the church. I believe it was Steve Brown who said, "We are just beggars showing other beggars where to find bread." When I pretend to be holy, to have arrived at a place where others who are real can no longer relate to me, I better wake up. A 'pretend' holiness has been put on like a cloak, masking the many lies that have convinced me I no longer need a Savior.
I am to live every day aware of my need for a Savior who hung on a cross and, moment by moment, invites me to bring my private and public sins to Him so that I can live before Him and others with confidence. If I can not hold my head up high because of the joy of His forgiveness, my spiritual world is full of disease. May no audience ever cause me to draw in my breath before walking into a room. At that point, I might choose to put on another face to be acceptable. The real me could go underground. There is nothing more refreshing than an authentic Christian, not authentic to sin and abuse grace, but real enough to be small at the foot of the cross.
I love you. I need you. I am nothing without your forgiveness today. I am everything in you and live in the joy of such love. In Jesus' name, Amen
