Gary Larson, the artist responsible for the Far Side cartoons that used to appear in the Sunday comics
Had a knack for making us realize the obvious
In one particular cartoon
There were a group of scientists gathered around another scientist
The one is the middle was normal looking
But the others were grotesque
Huge eyes, hideous noses, monstrous lips, elongated faces
They were trying to get the normal looking guy to take a drink out of a steaming jar
The caption said “Laboratory peer pressure”
If people could see how ugly sin is
And how much it distorts them
They would stay away from it too.
If we could see how much it would distort those around us as well we would flee even faster.
Its easy to fool those around us
We can put fronts on to trick people we see every day
It can be even easier to do that at church
Someone you usually don’t see but once a week
But outside appearances don’t tell the true story from the inside
Maybe this morning you are hiding a secret sin inside
Covering it up so that no one can know you are struggling
That sin is eating away at you shredding your heart.
That secret sin is a burden weighing heavy on your back.
It may cause you to stumble and hurt the reputation of God
Don’t cover that secret sin up anymore
Hiding your needs from God is ignoring the only one who can really help
God welcomes your honest prayer
And wants you to express your true feelings to Him
Bring it to God, remove that cherished sin from your heart
Take the burden off of your back
Don’t allow this secret sin to stay hidden and cause you to stumble.