Psalm 19:12

Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults.

Recently I had an automobile problem. My truck would turn over and would not start at times.  There were no corresponding error codes nor a check engine light. But the problem continued and it got worse over time.  I took it to a mechanic, he could not figure it out. I searched incessantly on web-site repair forums to search for a repair for this problem, while there were many having the same issue, none had any clear solution or fix. I then brought it to the dreaded dealer, anyone who has had to bring a car into a dealer knows what I am talking about, the price tag is not going to be cheap.  The dealer looked at, could not find the problem or fix either, and of course charged me for their time.  I went back to research, found several things it could be and decided to try to change sensors out as well as the main board in the truck, changed the fuel intake mechanism, etc.  The problem continued!  I then researched a bit more and found an obscure reference to a engine coolant sensor being the possible culprit, and decided to change it out myself. And after ALL of this turmoil, that little sensor I believe was the culprit all along.

I tell this story because with sin our life, we sometimes don’t take the time to research or diagnose what the issues are.  We continue on, the problems grow and are ignored.  As with the case above, there are sometimes no apparent error codes in our life but we struggle against sin. Why is this you ask?  It is because the world and all that is in it does a masterful job at covering up those error codes and all seems normal, and the check engine light so to speak well that has been burnt out, but the issue is there and it grows.

As David asked God to cleanse him from his secret faults, we must always do this as well. The glaring sins are easy, we see them, we know what to with them and fix this through repentance. The secret sins are not so easy to see. Those deeds and thoughts we have which are sins against God seem normal, but they too are and offense to Him and puts outside of fellowship with Him.

When you believe you have done all the right things, you study Scripture, you seek the Lord, you fellowship with others, you desire to grow in sanctification, and yet you feel distanced from God look within.  Look within your heart, discern those sins you passed off as nothing or not serious.  Discern why God is at a distance and the Holy Spirit is quiet within.  We must always ask for cleansing while we remain in the flesh as we still hold sin in our members.  Don’t always assume you did all the right things, God is quiet for a reason.

As you grow in sanctification and with the help of the Holy Spirit, you will search incessantly as I did with my automobile to fix the errors in your life and won’t stop until the issue is finally resolved.  If you are not doing this, ask yourself if you are in the faith. Sin our life must be repented of and removed.  Yes, Jesus Christ paid your sin debt if you are His child, but don’t assume growth in holiness is His responsibility alone, it is your solemn duty now, your responsibility. Sanctification is a process, different for everyone, but the same in its concept.  If you were told by a hyper-grace teacher that nothing more is needed, ask yourself why there are apparent issues and problems that arise in your life with no apparent help from God.  Is it because you disregard the secret sins? Most likely.

Think about this, if there is no care for repentance for some of the sins in your life or they are ignored, you are actually telling Jesus He did not need to pay for these particular sins.

The Parable of the Rich Fool

Luke 12: 16-21 Then He spoke a parable to them, saying: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded plentifully. And he thought within himself, saying, ‘What shall I do, since I have no room to store my crops?’ So he said, ‘I will do this: I will pull down my barns and build greater, and there I will store all my crops and my goods.  And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years; take your ease; eat, drink, and be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul will be required of you; then whose will those things be which you have provided?’  “So is he who lays up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.”

Here we have a farmer who Jesus uses as an example of the mentality of the human mind. The love of this world captivated this farmer whose profession was a success and instead of seeing this as a blessing, he counted it as his hard work, God was not a factor in this or so he thought.  He accumulated “stuff” and his stuff were the most important things he thought he earned and deserved because after all he worked hard.  He was not rich towards God but was laying up treasures for himself.   We see this often in today’s society, so often that it is seen as a highly normal accepted condition not an abnormal unaccepted behavior.

The sobering lesson Jesus gives is that today could be your last day, so all that  worldly “stuff” you are clinging to, boasting in, and hoping for, all can vanish in an instant.  You can’t take this “stuff” with you is what He is saying, and it is all for not.  So why are you striving for things of this world and not for heaven above?

Look friend, today could be your most fantastic day you have ever experienced, but God holds the key to the end of this.  Are you preparing for this end and your judgment before God or are you preparing solely for the temporary enjoyments?

Don’t put stock in worldly “stuff”, it accumulates but is nothing. Rather put stock in heaven above in praising God for His mercy and His grace. Absolutely NO amount of stuff or worldly accomplishment can compare to one minute at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ and eternity with Him!

Repent of being the rich fool as described by Jesus, and we are all guilty of this in many respects if we think about it.  This world is passing away, don’t cling to it, rather cling to the Savior.  Don’t worry about the bigger barn so to speak, rather commune with the Lord Jesus Christ instead.  Thank God for the blessings He bestows daily by the minute, don’t ever forget who is in charge!