The Power of Self Honesty
Christians believe that our God is a pardoning God, not by way of amnesty of what He has said but more importantly because of what He did on the cross. We believe that the cross is a place of pardon where God acted on the stage of history in which He single-handedly, once and for all fulfilled His promise that He will forgive our sins and there shall not be counted against us anymore. This divine forgiveness was what God demonstrated on the cross through the life of His son, Jesus Christ that whosoever put faith in Him is redeemed. It’s because of this single act that both in private and public prayers and worship we could boldly come to ask God for forgiveness of sins, cleansing with the blood of His son and it’s done. However, even though God made Jesus to die for all mankind but only those who accept and acknowledge Him as the son of God and believe in His saving grace are saved. We can pray with the Psalmist, “Have mercy upon me, O God according to Thy loving kindness, according to the multitude of thy tender mercies, and blot out my transgression.” [Psalms 51:1].
In approaching God for forgiveness or pardon, one major condition often neglected, must be fulfilled. It’s the condition of self honesty. It’s good to say you are sorry, when we have done some wrongs but what type of sorry do you say? Is it sorry as remorse because you were caught in an act or sorry as repentant because you’re convinced you did some wrong and by God’s grace you vow not to do it again? In your spirit man the hurt you’ve caused God and mankind also hurts you. In Second Samuel chapter eleven King David took Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah, the Hittite and put her in a family way. Foreseeing the shame his behavior will bring to him, He arranged for Uriah to be placed in the fiercest battle front so as to be killed and he took over his servant’s wife, who was defending his kingdom in a war front. God was grieved and sent Nathan, the Prophet to confront King David, in disguises. The story is told in 2 Samuel 12:1-14. In verse five, king David responding to Prophet Nathan’s story saying, “As the Lord lives, the person who committed such act is worthy of death.” This was an objective truth; it did not depend on the personality before him or involved. In verse 7, Prophet Nathan revealed to King David you are the man. [See verses 8-11]. In verse 13, King David confessed, “I have sinned against the Lord.” He did not try to justify himself or the act, but portrayed self honesty in his statement.
This condition was further revealed by the Psalmist in Psalm 51 as follows: verse 6 says, “Behold, thou desires truth in the inward heart and in the hidden part thou shall teach me to know wisdom deep down inside me.” Not only would your mouth say I am sorry but your heart must have it and the same message must be conveyed in your body language. Failure to satisfy the condition of self honesty in the inward part could hinder the pardoning power of the grace of God and frustrate forgiveness. Human beings like to season, color or rationalize the truth and even give it a new name. “An average person has an amazing capacity of self deception ………not everybody is prepared to accept the discipline of self-honesty.” It was the power of personal truth in accepting his faults that touch the heart of God and made Prophet Nathan replied immediately, God has pardoned you.
In verses 3-4 of the same Psalms 51, King David confessed, “For I am conscious of my transgressions and I acknowledge them; my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only have I sinned and have done this evil in Your sight so that you are right when you sentence me and justified [faultless] when you judge me.” Pay attention to the personal verbs, “I or I am” used in these statements. King David admitted his sins because he was a sinner; since his birth even had a sinful conception. King David faced the most devastating and most humiliating situation in his life but stoop down from his kingly position and bowed before his own King and Maker and humbly acknowledged his shortcoming, grave sin and failure. It was no time for religious piety. A man who bears a burden of guilt on his conscience must seek humble and abject self honesty before God. As King David stood up to his sin, we are required to do same and we shall receive instantly God’s pardon.
Does this sound strange in our age and times? We live in an era where leaders and kings live above the law. They do no wrong and even when their wrongdoings are exposed to public awareness, they live in denial and may not be found guilty. Though the judiciary system may found them guilty of grave wrongdoings and abuse of office, they still went ahead to contest for election. Others still went back to their law making position after being found in appropriate relationships and soliciting sex in public restroom or having marathon sex relationship and expended hard earned state funds on prostitutes. These pots boo the kettles that were caught in a relationship with a freak and apologize to their spouses and constituencies. It was more honorable and dignified to accept who you’re and confess your sinfulness to God whom nothing is hidden before Him and fellow human being because it’s scriptural. “If they confessed their iniquity and the iniquities of their fathers…..if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled and they accept their guilt’s, then I will remember my covenant with Israel, with Isaac and Abraham” [Leviticus 26:40-42].
The great demand of forgiveness is self honesty. Little surprised the First letter of John 1:8-9 says, “If we claim we have no sin, then we are fooling ourselves; the truth is not in us. But God is faithful and just. If we admit that we have sinned, He forgives [pardons] us our sins. Let us not make God a liar. Yet Nathan furiously said to King David, “You are the man.” It involved terrific strained and an indignity; shameful and utterly painful but the truth and a best place to find God’s grace and forgiveness. Prophet Nathan did not mind the position of the king David since he had a higher King, the God Almighty behind him. Nathan gave it straight to King David and that message brought the king to his kneels. Little wonder King David was a man after God’s own heart. King David humbled himself in the sight of the Lord and God lifted him up [James 4:10]. Let us therefore, resolve to make self honesty a cardinal point in this time of difficult challenges because honesty is the best policy in life.
Reach: Evangelist Ogbonnaya, Godswill @ weefreeministries.org or Box 720035, Houston, Texas, 77272.