“Concealing Offenses Now Can Explode Always Later!(C.O.N.C.E.A.L)”

By Ramesh C.Reddy
Pittsburgh Standard

March 14, 2008

Editors Note: The devotional has a background song by called 'Seventy Times Seven' which can be heard if you use Internet Explorer.

The other day, I learned about what Jesus was saying regarding a lamp and the function of the lamp. Today, I decided to look at the second half of the passage.

Observations:
I asked myself what Jesus is telling those around Him after asking them 2 questions?

1. For whatever is hidden is meant to be disclosed.
2. Whatever is concealed is meant to be brought out into the open.
3. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.

Interpretations/Implications:
Reading these words became very powerful to me because it brought to my mind the concept of sin. Earlier, Jesus had told those around Him to be a lamp. A lamp gives light to those around them. It does no good hidden under a bowl or bed. When it comes to sin, we cannot hide in our sin for long because our sin will be exposed.

When it comes to God, there are no secret sins. When people do things secretively it is not like no one knows because God is carefully watching everything we do. This can be a blessing because when we are keen to the concept of God watching over us and we have given our life over to God, we will be conscious not to do things that displease Him. Even when we do them, our conscious will prick us!

Jesus is giving a promise that no matter what we do it will one day come out into the open. That can be really scary especially if people engage in sins that others may see as shameful. But, it can also be a blessing in disguise because we can be conscious of God watching over us and knowing what we do will one day come out into the open. Jesus does not say may or could come out into the open but will come out. There is a definite promise here.

If anyone who is willing to hear, Jesus wants them to take His Word very seriously.

I ask you now dear friend, what do you conceal?
Dear friend, whatever you have hidden and you know it is not from God, it will come out into the open. You cannot forever keep it hidden whether a person is engaged in pornography, masturbation, homosexuality, adultery, prostitution, premarital sex, etc.

All you have to do is follow the recent news of what happened to New York Governor Elliot Spitzer and the prostitution scandal he has been associated with, dishonoring his family, his constituents, and most of all the Lord. In the process, he had to resign from his position as governor. Not only that, but this scandal has affected the life of a 22-year old call girl, he was involved with though he has a wife and 3 children.

Going back to the passage, it is very interesting that Jesus mentions a bowl and bed in his analogy. This has no direct relation to 'bowl and bed' but most sins that I have heard that people keep secretive fall under the sexual category. Once Satan has you in his grip in any of those areas mentioned above, he will direct you into darkness and secretiveness making you a prisoner to what captivates you. Jesus knows about that and is giving a way out.

Working with students and giving them Scriptural principles to apply, I have learned that one of the best ways to defeat Satan in these areas is to share the struggle with someone close to you and ask them for prayer and accountability. It is however very important you do not share with just anybody. As long as Satan can make you do things in secret and not be ashamed unless it comes out into the open, he will have a grip on you that you cannot escape.

There are times when the Lord supernaturally takes away those desires of people so they escape Satan’s grip all together but most of the time it involves a struggle that the Lord wants us to work through with His help. The Lord tells us His grace is sufficient for us. He provides help through counseling, through close friends, accountability which all need to fall under the Word of God.

Sexual sins are not the only sins that can be exposed but any sin. It is better to have a clear conscience and on the side of the Lord than following the enemy.

Whatever you are struggling through and know it is a sin, do not give up on the Lord. When you mess up, go to the Lord in prayer asking for forgiveness and His help. Do not let Satan condemn you to the point that you cannot go to the Lord anymore for you always can go to the Lord. When you feel that you cannot go is when Satan will have you in its grasp and you will start losing your conscience and become desensitized to the sin that overtakes you. Friend, Jesus said it is the sick that need the doctor and not the healthy. Jesus wants us to come to Him in our sickness of sin and not stay away. There are those that believe everything needs to be alright between you and the Lord for you to come before Jesus. That is far from the truth. Jesus wants us to come to Him in our weaknesses so He can work in us and through us, making His strength and power enable us to do His will, bringing Him honor and glory!

God tells us in His Word, "sin is crouching at the door and if you do not master it, it will master you." (Book of Genesis)

I do not want that for you friend nor do I want it for myself. I want to be following the Master than be mastered by the enemy’s way. I want that for you too friend.

Whatever you plan to do no matter what rationalization you get from Satan ask yourself these questions:

1. What if what I am doing is videotaped on hidden camera and displayed to the world to see. If it is against the Word of God, will I be ashamed? Will it spoil my reputation, etc
    

2. What if what I am doing is shown in a dream to someone the Lord chooses to bring correction in my life, will I mind or be ashamed?
   
   Remember, the Lord has shown the sins of people to other people in their dreams/visions to correct them. An example is the sin of David revealed to Nathan.
    

3. What if my secret sin causes the lost of a loved one?
   
   In the Bible we see that Acan’s secret sin cost the lives of those around him. He did not think anyone would know.

I have heard people say it is better to die than living in a sin. I tell you that suicide is not the answer but Jesus Christ! Satan would not love anything more than you committing suicide. That is not the way of the Lord and is cowardly.

Most of all whatever action you want to engage in no matter what the withdrawal or pull of temptation, ask yourself:

1. Is this action going to bring honor and glory to the Lord?

2. Is this action what Jesus wants a follower of Him to engage in?

3. Is this action a result of focusing on the Lord or on the enemy?

Secretive sins whether they are sexual, back hand business deals, etc will cause destruction in our lives and those around us if we become desensitized to them. There are sins that are so hard to overcome and become addictive.

Is there a way out and is there hope then when a person cannot seem to stop doing what they are doing?

Yes, there is and the answer is Jesus Christ and taking the help He provides. It will not be easy but the first step is admitting that we are powerless over a certain action that takes over us and we need the help of the Lord.

Things that are hidden are usually a result of temptation and God promises a way out for every temptation. We need to want it to receive it. Whatever I am writing is not meant to say that we can overcome anything of our own free will because from experience I can tell you, it will not happen. Taking the help the Lord provides and resting in Him is the best way to overcome sin.

I am reminded of a kidney transplant patient. After a patient gets a kidney transplant, they have a kidney again but are forever captive to medication. Otherwise, without taking the medication, their kidney will reject itself and they could die without another transplant & medication. If they decide, they do not want medicine anymore but want to live the way they used to live, it will not work for them.

In the same way, each of us are dying as the virus known as sin has taken over us. We will continue to die on the inside and on the outside until we get a transplant but the transplant comes with daily instructions to follow.

What am I talking about?

I am talking about a heart transplant where our sinful heart is transplanted with the heart of Jesus. This can happen because Jesus promises the Holy Spirit to come and reside with us when we turn to Him. When that happens He will transplant Himself in our lives. Now our sinful heart and the blood that flows is transplanted by the Holy Spirit and now we are covered by the cleansing Blood of Jesus Christ that flows in us and is pumped in us.

Just as a person needs to sacrifice their kidney to give someone else life, Jesus sacrificed Himself on the cross to give us His heart of love and became our Donor. Now, we need to accept what the Donor wants to give us and let Him surgically remove the sin in our life and fill it with His presence and Holy Spirit so we can be restored from our dying bodies on the inside and outside.

But this alone is not enough because we have to follow the instructions Jesus gives us so He can work in our lives. Just as a kidney transplant patient has to take daily medication forever so his kidney does not fail, we have to take the daily medication Jesus offers us forever without skipping it. His medication is the Word of God that is medicine to our soul. We need to not only take it but let it work in our lives daily so Jesus does the work in us and through us through His Spirit and His Word.

A kidney transplant patient takes medication through his mouth. We need to take the Word of God through our ears and eyes, digesting it daily, putting into practice what we have received. Otherwise, when we go our own way, we open ourselves up to the enemy! Instead when we focus our mind, heart, soul, and strength always on Jesus through prayer and His Word, we can live a victorious life. I truly with all my heart believe that and there is hope and deliverance for all in Jesus Christ!

The Word of God says, “Walk in the Spirit and you will not fulfill the lust of the flesh.”

Being a follower of Christ is not one day saying the sinner’s prayer and going our own way. Satan will not make it easy for us but we have Jesus to lean on and do everything He tells us by taking the best medication He offers from His Word. This means following His Word and principles as you seek the Lord in prayer. This could mean getting counseling, accountability, etc which are all biblical concepts that the Lord will reveal to help you as you are in prayer.

No matter what you are going through do not give up. Our God is a merciful Lord and desires to help you. Yes, He does! Even when we feel we are being punished, it does not mean the Lord has left us. Do not take it as punishment but take it as our Heavenly Fathers’ loving discipline to help us go the right path.

In closing, I would like to share a counseling poem with problem-solution that I wrote for students and non-students struggling with a addiction.

Altering Addiction Through Another Alternative
By Ramesh C. Reddy

Addiction to _______ you cannot quit?
You are going down the pit?
Addiction eating you bit by bit?
You are suffering a fit?
Making addiction no myth?
Cause addiction to ________ hits your brain?
Your immunity to stress it did drain?
Cannot yourself train?
Cause addiction is in reign?
Addiction to ________ did your life bake?
Making addiction into a poisonous cake?
Cause your life's control it did take?
Everyday giving you problems when you awake?
Addiction to ________ gave your brain a burn?
Making you mourn?
Cannot rehab able to learn?
Everything will be ok, when to Jesus you turn! (Jn 14:1)
Addicted to JESUS is the right Way! (John 14:6)
Without any withdrawals each day! (Col 1:27)
This is what you should say! (Isaiah 43:1-4)
Whether addiction is in any month such as May! (Heb 4:13)
Your addiction to _________, Jesus will cast! (Heb 2:18)
And in time, you will feel better atlast! (Phil 4:13)
Cause Jesus will give you therapy that's the best! (Ephesians 1:8)
That can pass any test! (Rom 8:28)
And give you a healthy rest! (Matt 11:28-30)
Covering you with a healing vest! (James 5:15)
All you gotta do is turn to Him! (Psalm 34:4)
Even when your chances are slim (Mark 9:23)
He will make you win! (James 4:7)
And save you from all your sin! (Matthew 20:28)
Jesus love for you is so deep! (Eph 5:2)
That even addiction to _______ cannot you keep!
Instead from addiction trouble, you can leap!
Giving addiction to _______ a tearful weep! (Rev 7:17)
AMEN!

May we rest in the Lord Jesus always and know His love for us realizing He does forgive time after time as we seek Him in repentance. May you make Romans 7 and 8 your prayer when struggling through sin!

“Concealing Offenses Now Can Explode Always Later!”(C.O.N.C.E.A.L)/”What do you C.O.N.C.E.A.L?”

Prayer:
Dear Lord Jesus, your Word is so powerful that it makes me tremble at times because of the power of it. Thank you so much for how much you teach us. You Oh Lord know the secret sins of our lives. You know what we hide and the masks we wear. We are so sorry for our sin and ask you to please forgive us and heal us. We cannot do it on our own but need your supernatural help no matter what the sin is. When you talked about hidden things, sexual sin came to mind because of hearing tons of stories about sexual sin and its devastating effect on people’s lives. Most pastors/priest's lives that have been destructive occurred because of sexual sin. Even King David's life and kingdom was forever affected by sexual sin. We even see the affect of sexual sin in some of the nations' leaders lives. You can deliver us from any sin no matter what it is. Help us to take the help you provide in humility and grace. Thank you so much Jesus. Jesus, we need the transplant you offer us so we come to you and ask you for it. Please cover us in your precious blood flowing through our heart for we believe what you did on the cross and need your help. Help us Oh Lord for the glory of your Name delivering us and setting us free. Thank you so much with the medication you give us and our willingness to take it, Satan cannot take over. Thank you so much Jesus that I do not have the words to say. Thank you for paying the price for us and becoming our Donor. We love you Lord and ask you to live in us and work in us please. We acknowledge you as our Lord and Personal Savior and take the medication you provide for us daily. Your Word has become our medication to live for you and serve you. Help us not to forget to take our medication for when we do forget we give the enemy a footstool. Thank you so much Jesus for your help. Thank you for being our Lord and Personal Savior! Thank you that you have heard us and answered our prayer. Thank you whatever we ask in your Name it will be done. In Your Name I Pray Jesus! Amen!

Friend, if you have prayed this prayer and meant it in your heart, you are a new creation in Christ and all old things are passed away and everything has become new! You may feel something or may not but don’t base it on feelings but base your new life in Christ on the promises of our Savior who will never leave you nor forsake you! Amen!