''You’ve worn me out! I’m sick of your religion, religion, religion, while you go right on sinning. When you put on your next prayer-performance, I’ll be looking the other way. No matter how long or loud or often you pray, I’ll not be listening. And do you know why? Because you’ve been tearing people to pieces, and your hands are bloody. Go home and wash up. Clean up your act.."- Isaiah 1:15-16 (MSG)
A boy had seen people smoking cigarette and it looked so enticing, hence he decided to try it one day. Unfortunately, the day he attempted to smoke, he saw his father coming down the street towards him. He quickly placed the cigarette behind his back in an attempt to hide it from his father. Meanwhile, there was a signpost across the street about a company of acrobats coming to town. As his father got closer, he tried to distract him by pointing at the signpost and asking, “Daddy, can we go see the acrobat when it's in town?” His father replied, “Son, never make a request while holding a flaming disobedience behind your back!”
The response of the boy's father above reinforces a crucial matter that God raised in Isaiah 1:15 about things that can hinder our prayers. God clearly affirms that He has zero tolerance for sin and He is not under any obligation to answer prayers offered by anyone whose hands are not clean before him (John 9:31, Psalms 66:18). Everything done on earth are lay bare before the omnipresent God, hence it is impossible for anyone to hide his or her sins from Him (Daniel 2:22, Jer. 23:24).
"Can any hide himself in secret places that I shall not see him? saith the LORD...." Jer. 23:24.
The Bible clearly states that concealing one's sin from God carries grave consequences. For example, when Achan hid some accursed Babylonian garment, a wedge of gold and silver behind his back, the entire nation of Israel suffered humiliating defeat. God turned His back on them and Achan's household was stoned to death on that fateful day (Joshua 7:1-26). Also, when Gehazi decided to hide the proceeds of his covetous act behind his back, his entire lineage were afflicted with leprosy ( 2 Kings 5:20-27).
Friends, what are you hiding behind your back that will make God turn His back at you this year? Does that thing really worth losing your testimony this year for? Why will you mortgage your destiny because of those things at your back? Please repent now and cry to God before the door of mercy is shut against you (Psalms 51:2-3).
Beloved, there is no better time to make one's way right with God than the beginning of a new year. God is merciful and will forgive you. Stop using religious activities to distract God from seeing your secret deals. It is possible to be a Sunday school teacher, yet heaven over you has become brass. You can be a Deacon or Pastor, yet God has deleted your name from the list of those who can access the throne of grace in the year 2023. Even if nobody else knows about those secret issues, I can assure you that God knows and He will not be able to answer your prayer this year until you make your way right with Him.
One hymn that re-echoes the prayers of King David in Psalms 51:2-3 which should also be our heart cry till we finish our race on earth is titled ''Rock of Ages, Cleft For Me''.
ROCK OF AGES, CLEFT FOR ME by Rev. A. M. Toplady, 1762
1. Rock of Ages, cleft for me,
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