Painful Exposure

John 3²⁰ For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. ²¹ But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” (NKJV)

Read John 3:18-21

I was reading this passage in multiple versions this morning, and as the Word usually does, it challenged me in my Christian walk.  Ok, I have accepted and believed that Jesus is the Son of God, so I am good….right? (v18)  Also in v19 it talks about condemnation, but Romans 8:1 says there is “no condemnation in Christ Jesus…”.  So here is the kicker for us Christians, we are not condemned, but we sometimes don’t allow God’s light into ALL areas of our lives.  We could be walking as “Children of the Light” and even being an effective witness for Christ in most areas of our lives, but there is one pesky area we keep in the dark….safe from being exposed, we think.  I know what some of mine have been, and you probably know what yours are, but maybe not.  Read the Message version of the same passage:

19-21 “This is the crisis we’re in: God-light streamed into the world, but men and women everywhere ran for the darkness. They went for the darkness because they were not really interested in pleasing God. Everyone who makes a practice of doing evil, addicted to denial and illusion, hates God-light and won’t come near it, fearing a painful exposure. But anyone working and living in truth and reality welcomes God-light so the work can be seen for the God-work it is.”  (MSG)

Wow, around verse 20 they use the word practice, which means you are working to get better at it.  Then it brings out the reasons why you might not know that area of your life is in darkness…due to denial and illusion.  Christians can sin as long as we are in this flesh, but even our future sins are forgiven when we ask Jesus for it.  The problem is when we are practicing a sin in denial, under the illusion that we are getting away with it and it is not “really” a sin.  Eventually either God is going to take us through “a painful exposure” (v20), or we can be turned over to a reprobate mind (Romans1:28).  I don’t know about you, but I don’t want to grieve the Holy Spirit by trying to please myself over pleasing God.  I want the Lord to show me where I am in denial or under a false illusion.

Prayer:  Lord I know my faith pleases you.  Please give me the ability to see things clearly so all my deeds will be pleasing to you and done in the light of your Love.  Amen.