Busted!

“. . . And be sure, your sin will find you out.” (Numbers 32:23)

He saw it and wanted it. While no one was looking, he took it and hid it. Although this scenario could play out in countless situations with various objects, this incident occurred in our home. The targeted item was a wrist brace. The thief was our dog. When I removed the braces that morning, one fell to the floor. It was not until later I saw Scout outside running with “something.” Noticing his actions had gained attention, he ran behind a tree, thinking he was out of sight. As I took the treasure from his mouth, it had noticeably been buried and unearthed as is his custom. I would have never known what happened to the wrist support had he left it buried. But in digging it up, he exposed the brace and himself. He was “busted.”

Some people approach wrongdoing similarly. They see something, want it, take it, and may even try to hide it. That “something" could be an object, a thought, or words that inflict harm. They may think no one saw the “thing”—having buried it for later. But God always knows where we are, what we’re doing, and our thoughts. One day those ill-gotten things buried literally or figuratively will be unearthed—exposed. When they are, there will be a dirty, nasty mess. So why not take care of the “nasty thing” before He reveals all? Before you are “busted?”

God’s Word says if you confess your sins, He will forgive and cleanse you from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9); you will not be held accountable for them. Once forgiven, He chooses to remember no longer what He washed away, removing them as far as the east is from the west (Psalm 103:12)—they are gone. Let God cleanse you of that “nasty thing.” He is faithful and merciful. God keeps His Word.