On the day I am writing this we are nearing Father’s Day and as most of us are I am reflecting on my dad.  He’s been in heaven a number of years already but I often wish I could talk to him and tell him what’s “happening”!

Daddy wrote a number of booklets and tracts.  I remember one of his tracts (wish I could find a copy!) called “Covered Sin”.  I don’t have any recollection of what he wrote except for one illustration … I remember that because he used me for that illustration!

I was a thumb sucker and mom and dad were trying to break me of the habit.  One night after they had put me to bed they came to check on me and found me sucking my thumb but I had pulled the blanket over me so I wouldn’t be discovered!  Yeah, right!  Daddy used that as an illustration of “covered sin”.  The scripture says, “Be sure your sin will find you out”.

Do we really believe that?  There are cases in the Bible and also in today’s world that prove that to be true.

First there comes to mind the story of Rachel and the idols she stole from her father.  Apparently she loved Jacob but not his God or she would not have stolen her daddy’s gods!  Jacob had  secretly fled from Laban after serving him for many years. Three days later when Laban realized Jacob was gone, he came chasing after him and accused him of several things but also for “stealing my gods”.

Jacob answered rather hastily when he said, “With whomever you find your gods, do not let him live …” (Genesis 31:32).  Laban searched the tents of Jacob, Leah, the two maid’s tents and did not find them.  Then he went into Rachel’s tent to search.  She had taken the gods, put them under her seat and sat down.  When daddy Laban searched her tent he didn’t find them there because she lied and said, “Let it not displease my lord that I cannot rise before you, for the manner of women is with me”.  She thought to cover her sin with a lie.  It didn’t work!  Perhaps Jacob and Laban never knew but God did and Rachel died an early death.

“Be sure your sin will find you out”. (Numbers 32:23).

What about King David and his adulterous relationship with Bathsheba (II Samuel 11 & 12).  David thought that by having her husband killed in battle no one would know of his affair and her pregnancy, that he could get away with it by covering it up.  But God saw and the Lord sent Nathan the prophet to David to confront him.  David admitted his sin to God and God forgave him but there were still consequences … the child died.

“Be sure your sin will find you out”. 

Acts 5 gives us the story of Ananias and Sapphira.  (Woe to the church today if God did now what He did then!!)  They sold a possession (which was and is OK to do!).  But they conspired together to keep part of it back but imply they were giving it all.  Bad idea!  You don’t lie to God!  God stuck both of them dead.  DEAD!

“Be sure your sin will find you out”.

We see and hear about “cover ups” all the time in today’s world.  Bernard Madoff, the American fraudster and a former stockbroker and investment advisor, who in recent years bilked many out of their life savings.  Ponzi scheme.  His deceit was eventually uncovered and he is now in prison serving 150 years!

“Be sure your sin will find you out”.

There are other “big” guys.  Adulterous affairs. Cheating on income taxes. Mail scams.  What about the “small” things … Lying to the boss that you are sick when you are not.  “Cooking the books”?  Taking office stamps.  White lies.

Am I covering sin in my life?  Are you covering up sin in your life?  It’s a scary thing to try and do.

Perhaps you can think of some, or perhaps yourself, who seem to have gotten away with their cover ups.  But there is nothing hidden from God!  Luke 8:17, “For nothing is hidden that will not be made manifest, nor is anything secret that will not be known and come to light.” (ESV)

It may look like some get away with their cover ups and in this life it may not be revealed … but God knows!  And God keeps perfect records!  Unrepented and unconfessed sin will keep you from heaven.  Romans 2:16, “on that day when, according to my gospel, God judges the secrets of men by Christ Jesus.”  (ESV)

The beautiful thing about our God is that once confession is made and repentance is sincere, God FORGIVES and our sin and cover ups are gone forever!  FOREVER!!  Our sins are then cast into the deepest sea and never brought up again.

I once looked up the information to see where the deepest part of the sea is … It’s the Mariana Trench off the coast of Guam.  It is nearly seven miles deep! If Mount Everest (tallest mountain in the world) were dropped into the Mariana Trench, its peak would still be more than a mile underwater!!!  I would say that is a little too deep for fishin’!

Our God is an awesome God!  He forgives, casts our sins away and then forgets they ever existed!

There’s a song that comes to mind to go along with this contemplation …

I CANNOT HIDE FROM GOD

I cannot hide from God

However I would try

Tho mountains cover me

I’ll not escape His eye

I’ve wandered far and near

And yet His voice I hear

I know that I can never hide from God.

I cannot hide from Thee dear Lord

To escape Thee so often I’ve tried.

No rest shall I know

While here below

Till in Christ my soul, shall hide.

How often in the past

I’ve gone my wicked way

I knew I’d come at last

To face another day

When for my wasted years

I’d pay in grief and tears

I knew that I could never hide from God.