I grew up in a factory town. While in recent years it has gotten better, I remember friends coming to visit me and remarking on how bad the town smelled. I hadn’t noticed it until I moved away for a season. When I came back I understood. I had gotten so used to it that I had no longer even noticed the odor.
When we talk about sin this is what we typically think about. Those things done in the darkness that smell of death but the one trapped in the sin is so used to it that they can no longer smell the stench.
Those living in this secret sin feel powerful and even more so the longer that they get away with it. During World War II the Germans thought that they could bomb London into submission. They would bomb London and destroy large sections of the city and create terror. They thought the terror would cause the people to revolt and demand peace. But a strange thing took place. Every time an area was bombed those close by and survived felt almost indestructible. Instead of cowering in fear these men and women became stronger.
In London this was a good thing, but when we are talking about sin this is not so good. The sinner becomes more daring and pushes the boundaries further and further. Much like with other types of addiction there is a law of diminishing returns. The sin must become bigger and more intense to get the same amount of pleasure. Those in secret sin are in a spiral that will reap destruction for generations unless it is turned around quickly. God wants to redeem their lives. But it must start with repentance.
Many will say repentance is only between them and God. True, that is where it must start. When David confessed his sin, he announced that his sin was against God only. This does not mean that there was no damage done to others. He needed to fix things up with the One who had put him in power in the first place. David knew the commandment not to commit adultery, not to covet, not to commit murder and more. In the deepest recesses of his heart he knew that his secret sin was secret only to the public at large. His sin was VERY public to the God that he sang to as a young shepherd. He had broken the heart of God. David’s own heart was damaged in the experience. His sweet and focused fellowship was broken. Unfortunately, somehow David had already gotten used to the feeling of separation and did not even notice it until the prophet brought it to his attention. This can happen. Remember, Samson? He rose up to fight the Philistines as he had done so many times before but he did not know that the spirit had left him.
Many men and women of God who are applauded and hailed as heroes forget the God who created them. They begin to believe that they deserve the perks of fame and they engage in sin. Often this sin goes on for years. The longer that they seem to get away with it the deeper the hold it has on them. They cannot escape the hold except by repentance. Like David, we need a prophet to call our attention to the fact that we have lost our connection to God. A man or woman of God to point out that we are no longer abiding in the vine. Our own systems and skills might be preserving us and keeping us in the spotlight, but it is a hollow and graceless experience.
When the prophet speaks to us do we become defensive? Many years ago my wife tried to speak truth to me but I verbally attacked her back. It did not take long for her to become silent. She no longer felt safe calling out my sin. These were not major sins but it was hurting my family. Work had become my god. Good health was my idol. Success mattered more than my connection with Jesus. I had to repent and open my ears to hear from her and others. It was in that first step of repentance that I was beginning to be set free.
