“People who conceal their sins will not
prosper, but if they confess and turn from
them, they will receive mercy.”
– Proverbs 28:13

Growing up, I remember getting a new basketball for my birthday one year. It was just what I wanted. After taking it out of the box, I took my time just looking at it. It felt good in my hands and it had that awesome new smell. As I continued to inspect the latest addition to my sporting goods collection, I noticed these words stamped on the ball: “Genuine-Imitation Leather.” I thought about that, but only for a moment, and quickly headed outside to try it out. “Genuine-Imitation” is what we call an oxymoron, defined as a figure of speech that combines contradictory terms. You know, like “jumbo-shrimp” and “awfully-good.” Words when put together, kind of mess with your brain. Now let’s look at the word “genuine.” A dictionary would define “genuine” as authentic or real. An imitation of course is a copy or a fake of the real thing. So the question that must be asked is, “How can you have a real-fake?”

Isn’t it amazing how easy it is to be a “genuine-imitation” or a “real-fake” in our faith and especially when it comes to our sin. I’m the master of hiding things that would put me in a negative light. While I take no delight in doing this, I know I’m only one member in a very large club. We’re all pretty good at it! Now let’s be honest with ourselves; our sin will find us out. God will find a way to bring it to the surface and into the light, He always does. As a dad, I often told my sons as they left the house to make good choices, but sometimes they didn’t. There were times they confessed that to me and other times they didn’t. Life was always a little smoother in our home when things were out in the open rather than being hidden in the dark. That’s the way it works in our relationship with God, our Father. There will be no blessings for us when we try to hide our sins from God. However, when we confess them to Him, not only are they forgiven, they are forgotten. God wants to bless us. Is there something you are hiding today? Give it to God.

Heavenly Father, thank you for being a God of mercy. Forgive me for the times I try to hide things from you. Guide me today to make my life genuine and real. AMEN.