“When I kept things to myself, I felt weak deep inside me. I moaned all day long. Day and night You punished me. My strength was gone as in the summer heat. Then I confessed my sins to You and didn’t hide my guilt. I said, ‘I will confess my sins to the Lord,’ and You forgave my guilt.” (Psalm 32:3-5 NCV)
I made a mistake in high school. Our baseball coach had a firm rule against chewing tobacco. We had a couple of players who were known to sneak a chew, and he wanted to call it to our attention.
He got our attention, all right. Before long we’d all tried it. A sure test of manhood was to take a chew when the pouch was passed down the bench. I had barely made the team; I sure wasn’t going to fail the test of manhood.
One day I’d just popped a plug in my mouth when one of the players warned, “Here comes the coach!” Not wanting to get caught, I did what came naturally, I swallowed. Gulp.
I added new meaning to the scripture, “I felt weak deep inside me. I mourned all day long… My strength was gone as in the summer heat.” I paid the price for hiding my disobedience.
My body was not made to ingest tobacco. Your soul was not made to ingest sin.
May I ask a frank question? Are you keeping any secrets from God? Any parts of your life off limits? Any cellars boarded up or attics locked? Any parts of your past or present that you hope you and God never discuss?
Take a pointer from a nauseated third baseman. You’ll feel better if you get it out.
#6078
