MULTIPLYING DISCIPLES AROUND THE WORLD

Day 7 – Confession of Sin – Restoring Intimacy with God

Imagine waking up one morning and discovering that someone you love deeply – your spouse, your best friend, your child – suddenly won’t look you in the eye, won’t return your calls, and acts as if you don’t exist. The relationship that once brought you the greatest joy has become cold and distant. You know exactly what caused it, but you’re terrified to face the truth.

That’s exactly what happened to me as a young Christian. I had been experiencing incredible intimacy with God through prayer and Scripture. Those early morning prayer meetings were days of immense joy – the aroma of God’s presence still lingers in my heart decades later. But then I made one seemingly small compromise, and suddenly it felt like God was nowhere to be found.

Here’s the life-changing truth I learned that day: Sin doesn’t just separate us from God’s blessing – it destroys the intimacy that makes the Christian life worth living. But confession doesn’t just restore our fellowship with God – it deepens it beyond what we ever imagined possible.

First John 1:9 promises: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

When I first came to Christ, I had a passion to know Him intimately. I would meet with friends early in the morning to seek God’s face and read Scripture. Before becoming a Christian, I had often cheated on exams at Louisiana State University, but that completely stopped when I found new life in Christ.

Several months later, I transferred to a Christian school where cheating could get you expelled. During a biology exam, there was one question I couldn’t recall the answer to, even though I had studied hard. A friend saw my dilemma and quietly turned his paper so I could see his answer. I quickly wrote it down, rationalizing that I had studied and really knew the answer anyway.

But when I returned to my secret place of prayer, it seemed as though God was nowhere to be found. I had lost the joy and intimacy of my prayer life. Psalm 66:18 explains why: “If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear me.” Sin creates a barrier between us and God that no amount of religious activity can remove.

I wrestled with God over what I had done. He seemed to be saying to my heart, “If you want intimacy with Me, then you’re going to have to confess to your professor that you cheated.” I argued with God: “You don’t understand! This is a Christian school. I could be expelled if I confess this!” But the heavens were silent and God’s presence seemed far away.

Finally, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I wanted God more than I wanted a good name. I wanted to know Him more than I wanted to stay at that school. I wanted intimacy with the Father more than anything in life. I decided to confess what I had done.

After I told the professor what happened, he said, “I knew that. I saw you. But I’m going to give you a second chance.” I went back to my dorm room rejoicing. I knew the forgiveness and cleansing of the Savior. When I returned to that secret place of prayer, I rediscovered the wonderful blessing of God’s manifest presence.

This is the power of biblical confession. Psalm 32:5 declares: “I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, ‘I will confess my transgressions to the Lord.’ And you forgave the guilt of my sin.” Notice that David didn’t just feel sorry – he acknowledged and confessed specifically.

Psalm 24:3-4 reveals the requirement: “Who may ascend the mountain of the Lord? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart.” You can’t hold on to a holy God with dirty hands. God told Moses in Exodus 3:5 to “take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.”

As I look back on that experience, I realize I almost traded intimacy with God for a good mark on an exam. I’m afraid that’s exactly what’s happened in many believers’ hearts. They once had sweet fellowship with God, but have lost it. They’ve traded the passing pleasure of some secret sin for deep intimacy with their God and Savior.

Hebrews 12:1 calls us to “throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” This isn’t just about avoiding consequences – it’s about removing anything that stands between us and holy ground.

James 5:16 shows us the power of confession: “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” Sometimes confession needs to be to God alone, but often it needs to include those we’ve wronged or trusted spiritual leaders who can help restore us.

The goal isn’t just forgiveness – it’s restored intimacy. First John 1:7 promises that “if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.”

Here’s the question that will determine your spiritual future: Is there anything standing between you and holy ground with God? Any secret sin? Any unconfessed failure? Any relationship that needs to be made right?

Right now, stop everything and ask God: “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me” (Psalm 139:23-24). If He shows you something, don’t rationalize it, don’t minimize it, don’t delay.

Confess it specifically. If it involves another person, make it right with them. Whatever it costs you – your reputation, your comfort, your pride – it’s not worth keeping. The greatest joy you’ll ever know is intimacy with God.

Don’t trade the temporary pleasure of hidden sin for the eternal joy of walking in the light with your Savior. Take off whatever sandals are keeping you from holy ground, and discover the incredible blessing of God’s manifest presence in your life.