When
my daughter got into high school, her
behavior started to change. She became withdrawn and started to rebel against
everything. I knew something was wrong, I just didn’t know what.
We
have always had a very open and honest relationship; she came to me about
everything.
have always had a very open and honest relationship; she came to me about
everything.
She
was keeping secrets from me that began to build a wall between us. No matter
how hard I tried I could not seem to break through or get around it.
was keeping secrets from me that began to build a wall between us. No matter
how hard I tried I could not seem to break through or get around it.
One
morning, she told me that she was getting a ride to school because she had to
be there early for some class. In the depths of my being, I knew she lied to
me, but I let her go.
morning, she told me that she was getting a ride to school because she had to
be there early for some class. In the depths of my being, I knew she lied to
me, but I let her go.
She
walked down the driveway and crawled into the car that was waiting at the end
of the lane.
walked down the driveway and crawled into the car that was waiting at the end
of the lane.
Unknown
to my daughter, a few months before we had GPS tracking installed on our
children’s phones, just in case we ever needed it. According to Google maps,
she was nowhere near her school.
to my daughter, a few months before we had GPS tracking installed on our
children’s phones, just in case we ever needed it. According to Google maps,
she was nowhere near her school.
I
picked up the phone and informed her that she was caught. She came home that
day from school and I told her it was time to come clean.
picked up the phone and informed her that she was caught. She came home that
day from school and I told her it was time to come clean.
After
a very long and drawn out argument she finally broke down and asked how I knew
she was keeping secrets from me.
a very long and drawn out argument she finally broke down and asked how I knew
she was keeping secrets from me.
I
told her that no matter what she did, no matter where she went, God, her Father
and my Father, saw for me.
told her that no matter what she did, no matter where she went, God, her Father
and my Father, saw for me.
He
was the one that told me to pray for her more and more, to keep trying to reach
her, and to not give up on her. She thought she was keeping all these secrets,
but God saw it all. God sees.
was the one that told me to pray for her more and more, to keep trying to reach
her, and to not give up on her. She thought she was keeping all these secrets,
but God saw it all. God sees.
God sees us
all, even the secrets we try to keep hidden.
all, even the secrets we try to keep hidden.
Secrets
taint our hearts and our lives.
taint our hearts and our lives.
Related Article: Taking Out Dirt In The Secret Place of Your Heart
They
build up a wall between man and wife, daughter and mother, son and father,
friend and friend. They separate us because secrets are sins.
build up a wall between man and wife, daughter and mother, son and father,
friend and friend. They separate us because secrets are sins.
Bible Reading: Joshua 7
In
the book of Joshua, we learn about a man named Achan. He was of the tribe of
Judah, and fought alongside his brothers and sisters as they overtook Jericho.
God told them that they were to destroy everything. Nothing was to be left over
and they were not to keep anything for themselves. All of it had to be
destroyed.
the book of Joshua, we learn about a man named Achan. He was of the tribe of
Judah, and fought alongside his brothers and sisters as they overtook Jericho.
God told them that they were to destroy everything. Nothing was to be left over
and they were not to keep anything for themselves. All of it had to be
destroyed.
But
Achan saw some things he just couldn’t let go off, hid them and thought no one
saw. But God did see, and Achan’s secret affected the entire nation of Israel.
Achan saw some things he just couldn’t let go off, hid them and thought no one
saw. But God did see, and Achan’s secret affected the entire nation of Israel.
Joshua, seeing that God was no longer on their side in Chapter 7 falls on his
face and asks “Why?” What has caused this separation between God and His
people.
face and asks “Why?” What has caused this separation between God and His
people.
Achan’s secret separated
the people from God
the people from God
Achan’s secret brought death
into the camp
into the camp
His sin brought defeat to
the children of Israel
the children of Israel
Secrets
have to be kept hidden. But, as we see, nothing is ever really hidden is it?
have to be kept hidden. But, as we see, nothing is ever really hidden is it?
We have to lie and steal and dig deeper
pits for our secrets to stay hidden.
pits for our secrets to stay hidden.
You may
hide your secrets from man, but they are never hidden from God.
hide your secrets from man, but they are never hidden from God.
We
also learn from this account in Joshua that God gave Achan opportunity after
opportunity to confess his secret before the Lord and before the people.
also learn from this account in Joshua that God gave Achan opportunity after
opportunity to confess his secret before the Lord and before the people.
In
verse 14-15 we read that God brought forth his clan, then He brought forth the
households, then man by man God drew Achan out.
verse 14-15 we read that God brought forth his clan, then He brought forth the
households, then man by man God drew Achan out.
Note
this: Achan had every opportunity to
come clean, to confess his secret before all of Israel and God.
this: Achan had every opportunity to
come clean, to confess his secret before all of Israel and God.
But
he kept them hidden in his tent, buried under the dirt. But isn’t that exactly
what we do with our secrets, with our sins? We hold them in our hearts, we
don’t want anyone else to know about them. We bury them and cover them with the
dirt of more sin.
he kept them hidden in his tent, buried under the dirt. But isn’t that exactly
what we do with our secrets, with our sins? We hold them in our hearts, we
don’t want anyone else to know about them. We bury them and cover them with the
dirt of more sin.
But
no matter how deep we try to bury them, they are not truly hidden because even
through the dirt, our Father sees.
no matter how deep we try to bury them, they are not truly hidden because even
through the dirt, our Father sees.
“And there
is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the
eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the
eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
Hebrews 4:13
God
called Israel accountable for the sins they were hiding, for the sin Achan was
hiding.
called Israel accountable for the sins they were hiding, for the sin Achan was
hiding.
God
wants us to see that secrets hinder us, they destroy us and we are not able to
stand firm against our enemies when secrets have settled in our hearts.
wants us to see that secrets hinder us, they destroy us and we are not able to
stand firm against our enemies when secrets have settled in our hearts.
Our sins are never secret and they
affect everyone.
That secret you kept from your husband has put up a wall between you two and
that intimacy you once shared has been damaged by it.
affect everyone.
That secret you kept from your husband has put up a wall between you two and
that intimacy you once shared has been damaged by it.
That
secret you kept from your boss has affected the way you do your job, and you
don’t give your best anymore.
secret you kept from your boss has affected the way you do your job, and you
don’t give your best anymore.
Sin hinders us from giving God our best. He doesn’t tell us to get up and get
away from sin because He is withholding something fun and good from us. He
tells us to get up and get away from sin because it hurts us and it hurts
others.
away from sin because He is withholding something fun and good from us. He
tells us to get up and get away from sin because it hurts us and it hurts
others.
So
then, how do we, as children of God, turn away from these secrets, these sins
we have buried in the dirt of our tents?
then, how do we, as children of God, turn away from these secrets, these sins
we have buried in the dirt of our tents?
>>How do we begin again to live a
holy and consecrated life before God?<<
holy and consecrated life before God?<<
We
confess our sins and then we put that sin to death.
confess our sins and then we put that sin to death.
We
put our secrets to death.
put our secrets to death.
Read: Joshua 7:19-21, 25
Related Article: Taking Out Dirt In The Secret Place of Your Heart
Achan
confessed his sin before Joshua, before Israel and before God. He laid bare his
transgression and freely confessed the hidden secrets of his heart, and then
death was brought to him and to the things he had kept secret. You may think
this is extreme, but when it comes to dealing with sin in our lives, we must be
extreme.
confessed his sin before Joshua, before Israel and before God. He laid bare his
transgression and freely confessed the hidden secrets of his heart, and then
death was brought to him and to the things he had kept secret. You may think
this is extreme, but when it comes to dealing with sin in our lives, we must be
extreme.
“If
your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is
better for you to enter into life lame and maimed, rather than having two hands
or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you
to sin pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into
life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”
your hand or foot causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you. It is
better for you to enter into life lame and maimed, rather than having two hands
or two feet, to be cast into the everlasting fire. And if your eye causes you
to sin pluck it out and cast it from you. It is better for you to enter into
life with one eye, rather than having two eyes, to be cast into hell fire.”
Matthew 18:8-9
Until
we get serious about our sins, we will continue to bury them and hide them. But
do not forget that you are not hiding from God.
we get serious about our sins, we will continue to bury them and hide them. But
do not forget that you are not hiding from God.
You
may have everyone else fooled, but you are not fooling God.
may have everyone else fooled, but you are not fooling God.
Get serious about your sin and the secrets you
have buried within. Confess them, be free of them and God will teach you how to
walk with Him again.
have buried within. Confess them, be free of them and God will teach you how to
walk with Him again.
Our secrets, our sins are just ammunition for the enemy to
defeat us over and over again. Quit handing him your weapon and stand to fight
again! Amen.
defeat us over and over again. Quit handing him your weapon and stand to fight
again! Amen.
About the Author
Stephane Singletary gently leads “The Upper Room” Women’s Ministry where writes and teaches women to love Christ.
She is also the author of “Winning Him Without A Word: Learning to Live and Love an Unbelieving Husband“.
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