Covered-up or Covered Sin

If you had a debt to pay and someone offered to “cover” it for you, what would you think? Or if you go out to eat and your friend tells you he or she has it “covered,” is that not a nice surprise? Being blessed by someone’s generosity is always a wonderful treat. That is the essence of grace.

Particularly in the case of a debt owed. When facing mounting debts, life can be difficult and the strain upon a family devastating to even the strongest relationships. The relief one feels knowing their debts are paid is liberating. Hopefully that person’s level of gratitude matches their sense of relief.

Another emotion one can experience with debts covered is joy. Unfortunately, too many people do not experience joy and experience happiness instead. The difference being the former is not dependent upon our circumstances and the latter is swayed by what happens. A forgiveness of debts should bring great joy:

    “Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered.” (Psalm 32:1)

Like the desperate one who tries to pay one credit card with another card, a person who tries to cover-up their sin is at best fooling themselves and others, and at worse living an open lie.

The destruction this life brings can be overwhelming. It steals your joy, brings grief to your family, and is unhealthy for you emotionally and physically. Living a lie can literally make you sick. However, repenting of sin and having a healthy relationship with God and others is the remedy we should seek:

    “Bless the Lord, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name! Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits: Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, Who redeems your life from destruction. (Psalm 103-1-4)

So often when God blesses our life we forget to bless His name. We take for granted the grace we receive. That is a recipe for falling back into a sinful life. Understanding the price that has been paid to cover my debts should be ever-present in my mind and my heart. A heart of gratitude always leads to the right attitude.

It is easy to look at our circumstances and justify living outside of God’s will, but in our heart of hearts we know that we are just covering-up our sins. As I often taught my children, if it takes more than thirty seconds to justify an action, it’s probably wrong. Oh the mental gymnastics we attempt at justifying our sinful ways!

The truth is we know as humans that we only have so much grace to give and get tired of covering for those who wantonly live rebellious lives. We wrongly apply that characteristic to the Heavenly Father thinking He has to be at His wits’ end with us. I don’t pretend to understand all that God thinks, but I do know what Scripture says:

    “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” (1 John 1:9)

I have learned and had to learn again that instead of trying to cover-up my sins, I need to run to the cross and let Christ cover them for me. Any other attempt at trying to appease God’s holy ways is a fool’s errand.

What about you?

Which do you have?

Do you cover-up your sin or has the blood of Jesus Christ covered it?

Go to the cross and get under the cleansing flood.

You don’t have to live the lie any longer.

Go now; ask Jesus to forgive you and experience the joy of covered sin.

In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4

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    Copyright © 2015 David Jeffers

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