What Are We Hiding ?
Yesterday as I was listening to the radio, I heard a segment regarding men of God that we hear have fallen to the wayside. Men that have been active in men's accountability ministries such as this, that appear on the outside to be outstanding citizens in God's Kingdom, men just like you and me. And during this minister's segment, he made the statement that in each of the cases that he had been involved in, each had a linking theme: each of the men had been hiding something.
I've gotta take us way back to the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve ate of the forbidden fruit and when God came in search of them, they hid.
Gen3: 8-10: Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden. But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?" He answered, "I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid."
This was the first account of sin and shame recorded in the Bible but certainly not the only one. So why were they afraid of revealing the truth to that one person that had provided for them, that had loved them unconditionally, and in fact, the one that ended up imposing some pretty heavy and everlasting penalties on the both of them that affect you and I even today? Can you imagine all of the trials and tribulations that might have been avoided throughout time if only they had not committed that initial act of sin and shame?
So the minister on the radio segment continued by saying that many men are hiding something from someone. Years ago when I purchased a new TV w/out my wife's knowledge, I tried to cover the action up by having a video tape playing of our wedding when she arrived home. How sweet I am! Then I tried to rationalize it by explaining that it was such a great deal that I simply had to purchase it. Well money was tight way back then and I was clearly wrong. Moving this to today, except for presents to my wife, I keep my wife involved in every major (and most minor) purchase(s) I make because I felt the full wrath of my wife's not-so-pleasant-side and I really don't want to go there again. Think for a moment how trivial this example sounds compared to the other things we might be hiding.
Examining this deeper, if we are hiding something, aren't we in fact lying? And in Lev 19: 10-11 it states, "I am the LORD your God. `Do not steal.' `Do not lie.' `Do not deceive one another.' And further, there are laws against bearing false witness (Exod 20:16) as well. Can we say, "10 Commandment?" So if we know these things, why do we continue to do them? Blame it on "human nature." Blame it on the "enemy" himself. Just don't blame it on ourselves because then we would be admitting that we have faults and flaws and character inconsistencies that do not match the front we put on to cover them up. And if when do that, oh my-my, pride jumps in and fuels the fire and we begin the cycle once again. Think for a moment about a lie told that had to be covered up by another lie, and then another ... and another. Getting the picture yet?
Last week (might have been the week before), my own Pastor was teaching from John (http://www.kingdombuildersintl.org/SundayMessages.htm) when he started talking about how we reach perfection. He spoke in terms of team sports but the message was clear; if we want to become the best at something, we must practice. To hear the message in it's full context, click on the link provided.
However, on the other side, practice can be inadvertently done placing us is greater harms way as well. No matter how small it might be, when we maliciously hide something from our our accountability brothers or worse yet our spouses, are we not engaging ourselves in the practice of deceit? And when performed over and over again, do we not get better? And the better we get, the more apt we are to practice. And the more we practice, the better we get. There's only one problem with this thinking: God knows. And He is a God that needs to be feared because He will expose the truth. That's fact. Look at what Adam and Even had to pay for their actions? What are we willing to pay? Lose?
Valiant Men of God, we don't need to go down this path. Certainly not with each other and most definitely not with our wives. Coming clean with God is the first step. Asking for His forgiveness is by far the easiest thing we as men can do. Coming to our accountability brothers and confessing our transgressions is a bit harder, but we'll survive. But telling the truth to our wives; now that's what separates the men from the boys.
Until next time, keep your eyes on Jesus !