The most imposing blockade to forgiveness is dishonesty. Honesty is ugly in our merciless minds. We get to where we've fooled ourselves into thinking we've done nothing wrong. Hypocrisy ensues. Then comes the powder. Our makeup that makes people "ooh" and "ahh" about our walk with Christ. Like a hag wooing the charming prince, he and your admirers are in for a shock. "For there is nothing covered that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known." (Matthew 10:26). Redemption requires the sort of brutal honesty that will lead to a real remorse and mourning. Fortunately it is those that mourn that are comforted (Matthew 5:4) and the added bonus of a clean start. Dishonesty is the only reason any Christian ever looks at another in disgust and says "Shame on you, you dirty sun of a gun, how could you do this or that!" That's dishonest with themselves and their prey. They are living in a fantasy. In "The Ragamuffin Gospel" Brennan Manning quotes Gerald May as saying, "Honesty before God requires the most fundamental risk of faith we can take: the risk that God is good, that God does loe us unconditionally. It is in taking the risk that we rediscover our dignity. To bring the truth of ouselves, just as we are, to God, just as God is, is the most dignified thing we can do in this life." Yes wallowing in the mud of our humanity is dignified.
Truth, Mitch Capps! The Lord has been showing me this so much. God is in the business of forgiveness but we have to confess. When we confess we are throwing away all excuses. It's then and there that we can be forgiven and healed. There is where we find freedom. What good words written by you Mitchell Capps. Preach the Word. Praise the Lord.
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