Learning how to confess your sin before it breeds

When do you confess your sin?

The best time to confess your sin is the time you acknowledge that sin. The moment you became aware of the sin is the best time to confess and do away with it. Delaying confession of sin will do you more harm in life and in your overall wellbeing because sin breed sin

David’s delay in acknowledging and confession of his sin

“And it to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house; and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent messengers, and took her; and she came in unto him, and he lay with her; for she was purified from her uncleanness: and she returned unto her house.” – 2 Samuel 11:2, 4

David had sinned in lying with another man’s wife, and in his attempt to clear (cover) up his sin, he sinned yet the more.

Sin is like an excreta in the heart of the sinner and it is something that should be disposed not covered. Sin concealed, no matter how long will never breed righteousness or a clear conscience rather it remain fresh and breed other terrible things as we see in the case of David. David went from the sin of adultery to deception to betrayal to MURDER! This is because of the corrupting influence of sin. Sin corrupts.

In other not to go neck deep in sin, you have to expel it fast. You may have been involved in one sin or the other, but whatever it is, it is time to expose it before it breed other damnable things and finally destroy you. When you refuse to dispose waste from your body, it make you develop some serious health problems which may eventually lead to death. It is the same with sin in a man’s life. When you refuse to confess and do away with your sins, it lead to both physical and spiritual health problem and finally death. “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” – Romans 6:23

What Caused David to Sin?

From the text in consideration above, it says, “AND it came to pass, after the year was expired, at the time when kings go forth to battle, that David sent Joab, and his servants with him, and all Israel… But David tarried still at Jerusalem”

David was supposed to be out in the battle field but he tarried at Jerusalem while he sent his captains and his servants and all Israel to battle. What caused David to sin was spiritual complacency. David was becoming spiritually dull but he does not know it

“And it came to pass in an eveningtide, that David arose from off his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king’s house: and from the roof he saw a woman washing herself; and the woman was very beautiful to look upon”

A saying goes that “the idle mind is the devil’s workshop”. When you lack something to do, the devil will give you something to do and so the devil tempted David, but because he was already spiritually dull he could not resist the devil’s temptation. He did not remember to ask God to help him and move away from the object of temptation, he didn’t remember that yielding to that temptation will be wickedness before God and to Uriah his faithful servant the husband of the woman – Bathsheba, he yielded and fell for the temptation and the Lord was displeased with him

Temptation can come to anyone and to be tempted is not sin, but yielding to temptation becomes sin and God is displeased when we fall into temptation because his grace is always sufficient for us to overcome any kind of temptation and he will not suffer us to be tempted above that which we are able to bear

The Bible says, “There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry” – 1 Corinthians 10:13, 14

If David had asked God to show him the way of escape at that helpless spot where he stood, God is faithful, God could have shown him how to escape and defeat the devil. But thank God David didn’t remain in his sin forever, he realised how far he has gone in sin when Nathan the prophet revealed it to him through a parable (2 Samuel 12:1-13)

Having realised and acknowledged his sins, he wept before God and pleaded for mercy. He was broken. He knew that it was only the mercy of God that would cleanse him from all his sins and grant him the joy of his salvation once again, and he prayed;

The prayer of David

“HAVE mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me. Against thee, thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight: that thou mightiest be justified when thou speakest, and be clear when thou judgest. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity; and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold. Thou desirest truth in the inward arts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and gladness; that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. Hide thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence; and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then will I teach transgressors thy ways; and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver from bloodguiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation: and my tongue shall sin aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise. For thou desirest not sacrifices; else would I give it: thou delightest not in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise. Do good in thy good pleasure unto Zion: build thou the walls of Jerusalem. Then shalt thou be pleased with the sacrifices of righteousness, with burnt offering an whole burnt offering: then shall they offer bullocks upon thine altar.” – Psalm 51

Unlike David who waited until prophet Nathan can to reveal his sin to him, it is every man’s responsibility to confess and abandon (forsake) sin the moment it is realized. While the Spirit of God in man makes it clear to everyone to know what is right and what is wrong, when you notice any form of sin in your life, then it’s time to repent and turn from that sin. Hardening the heart or covering up your wrong will attract the displeasure of God.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy”.  – Proverbs 28:13. When sin is confessed with the whole heart and forsaken, there is mercy and cleansing from that sin and there is corresponding grace to live above sin and you can go and sin no more.