Jack’s mouth and cheeks were plastered with blue frosting. When his father noticed the mess, he casually asked, “Hey Jack, did you eat a cupcake?” Jack answered, “No.” Since the evidence indicated that Jack had, in fact, eaten the treat, his dad good-naturedly questioned him again. Jack continued to deny that he had eaten the cupcake . . . six more times!
This “sweet” story has a serious side. When God asked Cain, “Where is your brother? Where is Abel?” (Genesis 4:9), Cain fired back, “I don’t know. . . . Am I my brother’s guardian?” Obviously, that wasn’t the point. Denying the truth never changes the truth. God knew that Cain had murdered his brother before He asked the question (Genesis 4:10).
Cain sinned by killing Abel but also by lying to God about what he’d done. Is it possible that refusing to acknowledge the sin in our lives creates a similar spiritual predicament? As John wrote, “If we claim we have not sinned, we are calling God a liar” (1 John 1:10). Denial can take many forms. Sometimes, we “reclassify” a wrong by refusing to call it sin. In our thinking, it becomes merely a less-than-perfect choice. And sometimes we deny sin by simply skipping over it during times of confession.
Cain’s life shows us that consequences may come whether or not we admit our sin to God. Because God knew the truth, He took away Cain’s job as a farmer and caused him to live as a nomad. Thankfully, that’s not the end of the story. By God’s providence, Cain received protection, was able to have a son, and founded a city (Genesis 4:15-17).
Let’s face it—God knows what’s going on in our lives whether we discuss it with Him or not. Yet He continues to reach out to us in grace and forgiveness.
NLT 365-day reading plan passage for today: John 15:17–16:4
More:
Look up Matthew 6:12 to see how honesty about sin was included in Jesus’ prayer. Read Hebrews 11:4 for an epilogue to the story of Cain and Abel.
Next:
Do you have a sin in your life you’ve been trying to hide from God? What will happen if you confess it to Him and turn from it by His power?
Gary Shultz on September 17, 2016 at 7:01 am
Well Jennifer, sin does happen in my life. Hiding it is another story, it doesn’t work, and only drills it down deeper in the soul unlocking multiple schemes to cover the sin. Much like Jack, we don’t get much better, we just have developed socially acceptable terms to excuse almost any behavior. Social blankets, or as you describe some of the avoidance tactics only extend the pain and results of sin. If we in our minds cross God out of the picture or as history records people who try to run from God and their problems, we only move sin along. I have come to like the path God has given us when sin is wedged in the heart. To confess that sin, “bring it”, keep short accounts, as soon as we are convicted of a wrong get it unloaded. God does understand our humanness, but He will not continually tolerate arrogant, blatant, rebelling sin. The only people we trick is ourselves and maybe some others, not God. Thanks Jennifer
hsnpoor on September 17, 2016 at 9:58 am
Yes and Amen, BWO, so true!
gagirllive on September 17, 2016 at 9:46 am
How true this is, Jennifer. As I read the passage I was struck again by the fact that God sure does ask a lot of questions. In His desire for relationship with us, He requires—like David said in the Psalms—“truth in the inward parts”. It is in our sin nature to cover up our wrong doing even when the evidence is blaring—and sometimes not so blaring— before us, but God graciously gives us the opportunity to “fess up”. That’s why I am so very thankful for the Holy Spirit’s presence, power, and work in my life. I pray daily that He will make me aware and sensitive to any grief I may cause Him so that I can confess and repent and remain in sweet fellowship with Him. Like Gary said, I want to keep a short account with Him. Just recently I had to examine my heart about a “hobby” that I enjoy. It’s not a sin in itself, but what I sensed the Holy Spirit asking me was all about my motivation behind doing it. Was I looking to it to satisfy a need that I should be bringing to God? Does this in any way compete with my attention and affection for God? I struggled with it for a few days, and when I finally hashed the truth out with the Lord and made the decision I needed to make, I can’t tell you what an incredible sense of peace I felt. My soul settled down in His rest when I confessed and repented. Praise God for His unfailing love and faithfulness toward us! Thanks for this encouragement today, Jennifer. Grace and peace to all.
hsnpoor on September 17, 2016 at 10:13 am
i just wonder if those cupcakes taste as good as they look….yum! I love that story told here between the cupcake eating son and his Dad. It amazes me how many people really insist and believe that people are basically good, but I’ve found that thinking to be a great jumping off point to share the Gospel. My basic message is that if people are basically good, how is it that children come into the world instinctively knowing how to do wrong and have to be very intentionally taught how to do what is right? An honest & intelligent person will always come up short and turn an attentive ear to what comes next and a seed gets planted! What a mighty God we serve! I wish all of my siblings in Christ a blessed and safe weekend!
elegantstarr1 on September 17, 2016 at 11:03 am
Dear Lord,
You know us better than we know ourselves. You know everything that is going on in our lives, good or bad, even if we decide to share it with You or not . Yet You still give us mercy and grace! I am and will forever be grateful to You Lord! Thank You for Your covering!
Love,
Starr
hsnpoor on September 18, 2016 at 1:46 pm
Yes He does, and I say Amen! Thank you, Starr, for the thoughtfulness of your prayer and allowing me the opportunity to tag on!
elegantstarr1 on September 17, 2016 at 11:10 am
Great devotional Jennifer! I needed that this morning. Thank you.
gshafer11 on September 17, 2016 at 2:10 pm
Those cupcakes look delicious!
minkjh on September 17, 2016 at 4:14 pm
Jennifer, you make a great connection between the sins of murder and lying. Is it any wonder that God included prohibitions against these two in the law handed to Moses? Cain still didn’t get it despite receiving another chance from God. Banished as a protected fugitive, he decided to build a city instead and defied God’s judgement by his lack of faith. With progeny that exceeded his transgressions ten-fold we know how God responded. There is a steep price to pay for hating God’s law to the point of blatant disobedience.