Message in a Bottle

Message in a Bottle:

There was a time when David chose to keep his sin bottled up inside and not confess it to the Lord.  The devastating results of his guilt were; aching to the bone, literal overwhelming physical pain and suffering, and strength completely sapped “as in the summer’s heat.”

David knew that there was always freedom, forgiveness, and relief in acknowledging/confessing sin to God, but even he struggled with bringing this sin to God. David wrestled, but ultimately concluded, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD.”  Then David notes, “And you took away the guilt of my sin.”  David didn’t keep his message of sorrow and repentance bottled up inside unconfessed, but rather he acknowledged his sin and that made all the difference.

God’s hand was “heavy” upon David, and this heavy hand helped to continually remind David of his unconfessed sin, which exasperated David’s guilt. That is part of the beauty of God’s love for us. God does not allow us the convenience of unhindered consciences. God’s love is “heavy” upon us producing consequences (aching, pain, exhaustion, despair, etc.), which lead us to repentance and confession.  

Thanks be to God that He does not allow our consciences to be “seared” to the point of insensitivity to sin & guilt like those 1 Timothy 4:1-2 who "abandon the faith" to follow “deceiving spirits” and who are “taught by demons” in , but instead God loves us with a tough-love and a “heavy” hand that brings us to joyful repentance and fellowship with God.

Many well-intentioned Christians believe that guilt comes from Satan, not God.  That statement is only partially true.  Guilt never comes from God.  Guilt regarding a previously confessed sin comes from Satan.  Guilt regarding an unconfessed sin comes from within us.  God’s hand may be “heavy” upon us when we fail to confess, but the guilt is all ours.  God is not a God of guilt-trips, but a God of freedom, forgiveness, and relief so that we can walk with Him unfettered by guilt and unimpeded by sin.

A confessed sin is a sin forgiven.  Psalm 32 is all about contrasts; between the one forgiven and the one who has yet to confess, between the one whose confession is genuine and the one whose confession comes via fear (foxhole confession), and between the wise who receive God’s instructions like treasure and the fool who is without understanding.

The HINGE of this psalm of praise is in v.5, “Then I acknowledged my sin… and you took away my guilt.”  The HINGE is confession. David provides the application and implores “everyone” to pray “at a time when You (God) may be found,” because “when the great floodwaters come they will not reach Him.”  Remember this is a psalm of contrasts.  What David is telling the audience through this song of praise is that confession is essential – RIGHT NOW!

It may be difficult to hear, but God’s ear is deaf to our flippant pseudo-sincere prayers that erupt from instantaneous moments of fear.  When our hearts are truly repentant then the guilt of unconfessed sin eats us alive until we can’t bear it any longer.

The decision to acknowledge your sin to God comes as a result of our realization of the futility and absurdity of withholding confession from God since He already knows the depths of our hearts. God already knows what the message in the bottle of our hearts reads, but we have to let it out via confession.  A genuine confession is not one coerced by the imposing doom of our immediate circumstances. According to Scripture, that kind “will not reach Him.”

So, has God’s hand been “heavy” on you about an unconfessed sin?  God is urging you to acknowledge that sin because He has already forgiven you in Christ, but He desires for you to return to FULL fellowship, which requires confession. God desires to walk with you as a friend – just as he did with Enoch.  That walk in His presence requires the absence of sin, must be devoid of self-deceit, and necessitates freedom from guilt.  Confession is more for us than it is for God.

And if there is guilt from a prior sin you have already confessed and no longer practice…  that guilt is truly from Satan.  If you are not hiding anything from God in your heart then there is nothing to re-confess.

Genuine repentance is received and absolved perfectly in Christ.  Satan only seeks to distract and control you with old business that Christ has already washed away and exchanged for His perfect righteousness.  Therefore, do not let Satan distract you from FULL fellowship with God with old business.

Lastly, know that you are forgiven absolutely, eternally, and perfectly in Christ when you confess.  Psalm 103 makes that abundantly clear:

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

   so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

   so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

Indeed our God is an awesome God and worthy to be praised!

Blessings,

-Kevin M. Kelley

aMostUnlikelyDisciple.com