TRANSPARENT YET NOT ASHAMED

When was the last time you admitted a sinful act either to yourself, God or your fellow man? Are you one of those who find it difficult to expose hidden sins for fear of being cast down? Many of us have exulted ourselves higher than we are in the sight of others, feigning extreme holiness, and we are anxious of the possible loss of our reputation should our sins be exposed. Fear of shame and pride has caused many of us to conceal our sins and most of us have become liars to ourselves, God and our fellow man. Well, do you realize what you are losing by concealing your sins for fear of shame? Let’s reason together….
In the book of Jonah, we realize a great deal of transparency on his part during the tempestuous wrought of the sea against the ship he was traveling with (Jonah 1:4-10). Jonah had fled from the presence of God, against inaction on his part concerning God’s commandment to him (chapt 1:1-3). Unconsciously, he had disregarded the omnipresence of God and went on board the ship, as if that would hide him from God’s presence. Apparently, God proved His omniscience to him and figured him out with a great storm against the ship he was using for his hiding escapades. The storm was fearsome, and the other crew members cried out for an escape. Lots were cast as to whose cause the storm raged against them and it fell on Jonah. It is embarrassing for a lot to fall on you, come to think of it, for a bad cause. It is more disgraceful to admit to have run away from your task, especially as one old as Jonah who could have been thought to be responsible enough. It is worse of an embarrassment to admit you fear God and simultaneously, expose your disobedience to Him.
Jonah could have denounced any connection with the raging sea, lied to the people and against God and saved himself any embarrassment the whole situation might have put him into. He could have thought of the possible dreadful things the crew members could have done to him for causing them such havoc and conceal the obvious, yet he had no fear of man concerning his transparency, save the benefit of such transparency in the sight of God. So not only did he admit being the cause of the perishing that was about to befall them, he also told them what he did. He confessed his faith and task, not because he feared the crew members, but he knew God had found him out and it was only his transparency that would cause Him to still the waters and save them from perishing. If he hadn’t been transparent enough, it is obvious they all would have perished. Nevertheless, not only did Jonah not perish even in the belly of the fish, his transparency gained him a second chance from God to make right what he did wrong (Chapt 3:1-4). Most Christians are concerned about our reputation in the eyes of the public and not God. We are refusing to reveal the skeletons of sins we are hiding in our cupboards, because it feels right and good that no one sees those ugly skeletons. In the sight of men, we are receiving all the praise and exultation, but at the corners of our room, where no one can see us, we are dying slowly with the strong odour of the skeletons of irresponsibility, lust, bitterness, anger, jealousy and inaction which are in the cupboard. We are thinking of what people will do and say when we expose our ugly sinful lives, but we are not thinking of the grace and mercies that will flow from the throne of God unto us at the exposure of such sins. We are therefore losing the second chance to grasp the opportunities God has for us and the blessings that comes with it. We should be like Jonah, whose transparency about his sins not only gained him the forgiveness of God, but another chance to source His grace and blessings through obedience.
Jonah, admitting his sins, cried out to God and praised Him for answering his prayers and saving him, even at the moment he was under punishment(in the belly of the fish) (2:2, 5-9). It was after this that God actually saved him from the belly of the fish. Jonah’s words of faith here can only mean he knew his transparency automatically qualifies him for God’s mercies and to move His hand in his situation to grant him salvation. Jonah reinforces this by saying ‘they that observe lying vanities forsake their own mercy’ (2:8). Lying vanities here can be referred to those non-admitted sins we are deceitfully exulting and dignifying. Observing lying vanities here therefore means not calling sin by its name; In other words, he is saying those who call sin by its name (admit their sins) draw God’s mercies towards them. Many of us in the church are not calling sin by its name not only because of the anticipated shame, but because of sheer stubbornness. Sometimes, we feel embarrassed having to come before God again and again with the same confessions of the same sins; the odour stinks too much now and we know our transparency will shame us before God. Other times, we take the compassion and forgiving heart of God for granted. This anticipated shame and mockery of God causes ingrown pride which eventually makes us place a mark of normalcy on our sins, until we no more regard sin anymore. Yet, the Psalmist says ‘If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me’(Ps 66:18); he buttresses this with Psalm 32:5 where we notice God expects admittance and confession of sin. Notably, calling sin by its name makes it easy for us to overcome them. When we conceal sin, we give the enemy the power to accuse us before God(which accusation holds) and exert authority over us, but exposing them diffuses his power. We must really fear in times of evil if we are concealing sin within us(Ps 49:5) If we are observing lying vanities in this wise, then we are losing our own mercies. The bible says, ‘If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness’ (1Jn 1:9). If we call sin by its name, it means we are admitting our sins, and if we are admitting our sins, we are confessing them, and if we are confessing them, we can say to an appreciable level that we are repenting of them.
Extensively, Jonah’s confession of sin and faith, and the subsequent awesome work of God (calming the sea), caused the crew members to have the fear of and faith in God (Jon 1:15-16). Impliedly, our transparency concerning our sinful nature and faith can do more as to win souls for the Lord. Sometimes, we realize the best way to recommend God unto others is by our own testimony of past sinful nature and the grace and cleansing of God that accompanied our confession and repentance. In this instance, yes we are exposing our ugly past nature, yet we are not ashamed for we know God’s mercies can extend to others and snatch their souls from perishing. We realize the same thing about Apostle Paul who admitted and confessed boldly his past sinful nature of persecuting the church, and then his faith in Jesus and the gospel just to win souls for Christ (Acts 22:1-21; 26:9-23). Paul suffered many persecutions for exposing himself in this wise, yet he wasn’t ashamed or discouraged for he knew what the Lord had in store for him at the end; a victorious crown and glory (Php 3:14; 1Corin 9). Admitting our wrongs to each other also generates peace; here, instead of being peace-keepers we become peace-makers which grants us the benefit of being called the children of God(Matt 5:9). James pinpoints our healing is assured if we confess our sins to each other (5:16). He emphasizes this need once more in verses 8 and 9. It is only when we become transparent that the rays of God's light can penetrate within us and make us shine.
Knowing the prize we will obtain at the end of the day when we expose our sins, we will never trade our transparency for the lying vanities of reputation as in self-exultation and self-righteousness! Loosen yourself, repent, admit and confess those hidden sins to yourself, God and those you ought to, and experience a wonderful touch of God!