I've Sinned, What Now?
By Aaron Beard

The following circumstance is one to which every person can relate.  You are staring temptation in the face.  Instead of fighting the devil you give in, taking the "easy" but sinful way out.  You realize what you have done and are faced with a decision, "I've sinned, what now?"  The way you respond to this question has eternal consequences.

Today's "modern" world is one of pride and arrogance.  It is a world that teaches men to look out for self and then others, but only if it is convenient.  Therefore, it is no surprise that man's most frequent response upon realizing he has sinned is to try to conceal it from men.  This may provide some temporary relief.  You may hide sin from your family (both physical and spiritual), elders and even the preacher.  It is possible that no one else on this earth knows your sin.

David, a man after God's own heart, was faced with this very same decision.  He committed adultery with Bathsheba and she soon found she was with child.  Her husband was off in battle so David knew there was no way to cover this up.  He then tried to get him to go home with his wife, but he refused (2 Samuel 11:6-9).  David then tried getting him drunk and sending him home to his wife (2 Samuel 11:11-13).  This did not work either.  Running out of options, David sent him back to battle with orders to go to the front line -- a sure death sentence (2 Samuel 11:14-15).  This final plan worked just as David had hoped.  He was sure no one knew.

The person who covers their sins from man's eyes only may find some temporary relief, however, it is just that -- temporary!  1 Timothy 5:24-25 says, "Some men's sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later.  Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden."  Some may get away with concealing their sin from man, but one day those who seek this action will face the Righteous Judge.  We must remember that God knows.  David knew this and the fact that he was covering something up was devouring him emotionally and physically.  Psalms 32 describes this well.  David writes, "When I kept silent, my bones grew old through my groaning all the day long."  One may be able to tell when a brother is eaten up with sin because his physical health, appearance, and attitude deteriorates.

There is an old quip that says, "Sin will take one further than he ever meant to go and cost one more than he ever meant to pay."  This statement is especially true when it comes to concealing sin.  In doing so one's pride takes over.  Since he is ashamed and does not want anyone to know his weakness, he starts becoming hard hearted and unwilling to repent.  The combination of shame and stubbornness starts working on them.  He begins to quit showing support at different functions that Christians conduct.  This individual is not present at singings, bible studies and dinners.  It soon begins to affect their attendance at worship services.  Before long they are no longer meeting with the saints.  Others try what might be called "church hopping."  When their spiritual family discovers that the one has sin in his life and they begin to try and encourage him, he gets upset and moves to another church.  There is a good possibility that this person will not stay at one local church for any length of time.

Christians never want to deal with their sins in this fashion.  Christians, by their nature, are lovers of light.  John writes, "This is the message which we have heard from Him and declare unto you, that God is light and in Him is no darkness at all.  If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth."  (1 John 1:5-6).  Christians desire their sins to be brought out because they love truth and light and hate deception and darkness.  When a Christian stumbles he seeks those who he sinned against and corrects it as soon as possible (1 John 1:9).  As David wrote after he corrected his sin with Bathsheba, "Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered."  Forgiveness through the blood of Jesus is the only real way to cover one's sins.

--Aaron Beard