Ignoring our sin doesn’t remove it from reality. To step out of the darkness and into the light, we have to be honest about our sins.
Every so often it is important to consider something we like to avoid: our sin. That’s probably not how you want to start this article, but it will be necessary and helpful. It’s not the easiest topic to greet you, but give me a moment to show the importance of addressing it.
You might find it easier to point out others’ sins. It’s kind of like if someone is eating and gets food on their face. You try not to stare at it and don’t want to embarrass them, so you awkwardly make it through the conversation. While you probably wish someone would tell you if you were in that situation, we often fail to inform the unsuspecting person when the roles are reversed.
Seeing food on someone else’s face is easy, but noticing it on ourselves is more challenging. You might feel that something is there or have someone looking curiously at you, raising your suspicion. In a moment like that, you just wish someone would point out your messiness so that it wouldn’t become a fixture on your face and embarrass you throughout the day.
Acknowledge
Our sin is a lot like that. It is easy to see it in others, even though we don’t know what to do about it. It is sometimes difficult to recognize it in ourselves, though. We are more prone to point it out in another than to own it for ourselves. But avoiding our sin won’t make it go away. We have to deal with the corruption that sin creates in our lives.
In 1 John 1:5-10, Jesus’ disciple gave incredible insight into the dilemma. The Apostle John wrote this book. He was a former fisherman turned disciple. He was very close to Jesus during his life, and he was a significant leader among early Christians once Jesus ascended into heaven. As you read, look for how John wants us to acknowledge the sin in our lives.
5 This is the message we have heard from him and declare to you: God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in him. 6 If we say, “We have fellowship with him,” and yet we walk in darkness, we are lying and are not practicing the truth. 7 If we walk in the light as he himself is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. 8 If we say, “We have no sin,” we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 10 If we say, “We have not sinned,” we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
1 John 1:5-10
John really wants us to avoid the darkness. In this passage, he mentions two types of darkness. One is the darkness of sinful behavior. The other is the darkness of acting like you aren’t in sin. Do you see that present in yourself and others around you?
- Sinful Darkness – What are common sinful behaviors that are present people these days?
- Deceitful Darkness – What are common ways we act like we aren’t responsible for their sins?
Admit
John says, “God is light, and there is absolutely no darkness in Him” (1 John 1:5). God turns on the lights in a world that prefers darkness. He illuminates all to see where the safe path is and exposes all who aren’t on it. Look at other verses in which God speaks of His light.
- The LORD is my light and my salvation – whom shall I fear (Psalm 27:1)?
- For with You is life’s fountain. In your light we will see light (Psalm 36:9).
- Though I have fallen, I will stand up; though I sit in darkness, the LORD will be light (Micah 7:8).
- Then Jesus spoke to them again: “I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows Me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life” (John 8:12).
Your sin is there. Don’t deny it. Stop ignoring it.
God is aware of it, and if you admit that, you are on the path to seeing some progress. It may be easier to point out others sins, but the only ones you can do something about is your own.
It’s time to get honest.
Travis Agnew serves as the Lead Pastor of Rocky Creek Church in Greenville, SC. His most recent book is Just (About) Married.