The Tragedy Of Covered Sin

This week, we are looking at the message entitled, “The tragedy of covered sin.” One of the most serious verses in the Bible is found in Proverbs chapter 28 verse 13: “He that covereth his sins shall not prosper but he that confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”

Many years ago, a certain man was taken to court and charged with murdering his wife. The only witness against him in court that day was his 14 years old son. The man cried bitterly in the court room to prove that he did not kill his wife but the son insisted that he killed her. The man was sentenced to death, because of the witness of his 14 year old son. Twenty-two years later when the boy had become 36 year old, he surrendered his life to Jesus. That day, he came forward to tell the preacher that he had a confession to make. He told the preacher that 22 years ago, he was the one that killed his own mother and falsely accused his father of the crime and his father was sentenced to death.

The preacher wondered why he was making the confession. But he told him that he preferred to confess it and face the consequences than to lose his salvation. Then the preacher told him to go to the police and report himself. So, he went to the police station and confessed what he had done. He was taken back to court, where he too was sentenced to death. But he died a happy person; he died the death of the righteous (Number 23:10). If he had covered his sin he would not have prospered.

Sin is a fact of life and is the most horrible thing in the universe. In fact, if it was not for the issue of sin, Jesus had no business dying. Sin is so terrible that God had to surrender his own Son as a scapegoat so that He could be dealt with to eliminate sin. That day, where He hung on the cross, the people He came to die for were laughing Him to scorn. So, He had no comfort from those who were watching Him die. His legs were suspended from the ground and His head was not touching heaven. He was suspended in the middle. He turned to His own Father but He refused to answer and He cried out: “My Father, why has thou forsaken me?” God ran away from His own Son because of the horribleness of sin.

Sin is revealed clearly in the Bible. A policeman pursuing a thief is actually pursuing sin. Many times the medicine prescribed by doctors is against sin. The conscience is always condemning sin and God always punishes sin. The Bible says, though hand be joined in hand, no sinner will go unpunished (Proverbs 11:21). Sin is a cheat, a destroyer and a deceiver. The Bible says there is a way that seems right but the end thereof is death (Proverbs 14:12). Sin will promise you pleasure but will pay you back in the coins of pain. Sin will promise you life but will pay you back with the currency of death. Sin will promise you profit but will give you poverty. Sin is dangerous beyond description.

The Bible says sin is a violation of the law of God. Our human society may punish crime but only God can punish sin. When you refuse to conform to the law of God, you are a sinner. There is no small sin. Sin is sin. Sin is missing the mark of God for your life. Sin is when you turn aside from a straight path. Sin is when you are competing with God, that is, when God says this is what to do and you say, “No, in my own opinion this is what I believe is right.” If you have the right to determine what is right or wrong then you have made yourself a god.

Sin is when men overstretch their divine limits. Sin is when you refuse to attain the divine standard God has set for you.

Many people according to the record of God are supposed to be prophets, prophetesses, evangelists and pastors to the nations. They have been born again for 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 5 years, but are yet to do what God expects them to do. They are sinners because they have refused to attain that standard He set for them.

Some years ago, a certain brother prayed about his life and the Lord showed him a vision. He said he saw a staircase which led to a high mountain and began to climb it. He stopped at number 3 out of 27. And God said to him, “Look, you have been born again for 12 years, you are expected to have climbed these 27 steps but you are still on level 3. You have one year to readjust your life if not, you will be replaced.” He cried and began to work hard to see what he could do but unfortunately within the next few weeks, he died and that was the end.