If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloak for their sin.
– John 15:22
For a longtime many of us will be able to “get away with it”- sinning that is!
We will not realize that is what we are doing- sinning that is!
We do not know because we are blinded and our ears closed to hearing so that even if someone speaks the truth of Gods Word to us we will not receive it- we will not be able to fully comprehend what is being said. A true chance, an actual choice for redemption, comes, however, when the Lord speaks to us while simultaneously opening our eyes and our ears to receive His glorious truth.
It is then that the veil will be torn, the cloak removed, and we will see the true nature of our sinful, deceitful hearts. It is then that we will be able to make our choice to either remain dead in our sins and trespasses- to continue with our way of doing things- which the Bible tells us is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12)- or to turn to life in Christ.
We will, of course, never make it to this critical fork in the road without hearing the Words of Jesus Christ. That is why we must read the Bible (preferably daily) to hear His voice. His voice that shines the light of truth on our darkness- our sins illuminated by His righteousness- again, daily, little by little, and sometimes even many at once, our sins will be revealed- the cloak removed- and the choice must be made by us: to remain in that sin or to repent and be obedient. We will not be able to hide any longer; no longer will our ignorance be ignored.
Not only is it vital that we read and stay in the Word of God daily in order to continue our sanctification through Christ Jesus but it’s also vital that we share His Word with other people as well. When we come to know the truth, that is found ONLY in Christ, we are charged to proclaim it! The Bible tells us in Romans 10:17 that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God!
How will anyone’s (including ours) faith grow and their ears and eyes be opened without their being subjected to the proclamation of the Word? The more we hear the Word, be it by reading or by preaching, the more chances it will have to penetrate into our souls, our spirits, our minds, and our hearts until suddenly- in Gods perfect timing- the seeds take root and begin to grow, to thrive, and eventually bring forth fruit! This is why Jesus charged us to not keep our lights hide under a bushel barrel and to carry out the Great Commission found in Matthew 28.
It is up to us to spread the Word abroad and in our hearts. Do we wish to be better people, more Christlike in all of our ways? Do we pray for a world with less wickedness and pain? There is ONLY one way to make true and lasting change in ourselves and the world around us- constant penetration of the glorious Gospel of Jesus Christ! Only the Sword of the Spirit (Jesus, the Word made flesh) can remove the cloak from off of our sins.
As You Rise 