S123P2 – A people’s lament: sins laid bare

Lam. 1:8

Jerusalem has sinned gravely, therefore she has become vile.  All who honored her despise her because they have seen her nakedness; yes, she sighs and turns away.

The revival began in a small town down south, but its impact reverberated throughout the world.  Thanks to current technological advances, everyone could see the event unfold in real time.  There were not only stories of healings and miracles but recorded evidence of these things happening.  People were coming from all over the world to experience this great move of God.  Then, the man who was the face of this revival had to step down due to a great sin.  Unfortunately, this caused many to question what was happening in that place, and his fall from grace drew a dark mark on the testimony the Lord was establishing there.  One man’s sin changed the whole trajectory of that ministry.

This passage speaks of the revelation of truth.  The scriptures warn us about keeping things hidden, because the Lord will bring everything to light. [Lk. 12:1-2; Ecc. 12:13-14]  There is no secret sin that will remain a secret and leave our walk unaffected.  No matter how hard we try, we cannot paint things over with an illusion without that illusion eventually being exposed, and that exposure can be a detriment to how others view God.  Just like David’s sin causing his enemies to blaspheme the Lord, we can sully his name before others when we choose to walk in darkness.  Jerusalem eventually was seen in all her sin, naked and exposed, shamed before the world.  Imagine how her fall would have shaped her enemies’ view of the almighty God she professed to serve.

When we walk this Earth as representatives of the one true God, we must understand that the way we live our lives is a reflection of him.  For someone whose only encounter with Jesus might be their encounter with me, I have a high standard to maintain.  I have a responsibility to do right by the Lord in the way I live my life and not chase darkness in secret.  The goal is for us to be completely confident in our exposure because there is no dark thing to be exposed.  We must bring every hidden secret to the light ourselves so that they can be resolved.  Father, let us not be those who walk in hidden shame but those who bring our sin to You for illumination, forgiveness, and deliverance.