When You Get Caught

When we get caught doing wrong we're amazed. Our reaction is either "How could I have been so stupid?" or "What part of my plan went wrong?" The first means the person is like Samson, so dependent upon his abilities, he thought he was untouchable. The second is like David, again so dependent on his wisdom and authority, that Uriah's death meant nothing to him. All he was interested in was covering up his sin with Bathsheba.

We all hate to get caught. Some things we can patch up and make right. Other things are bigger than our abilities and we have to pay the penalty for our actions. It's often the thought behind the event that causes us the most regret when it's over. The Bible verifies that the pleasures of sin last for a season, but when that moment of regret comes, it's like a dagger in the heart. You begin to feel remorse for the people you have hurt, how your reputation has been damaged, but most importantly, how you let God down. In that very moment of failure you don't see the consequences ahead, but when you get caught you realize that moment of weakness cost more than you could imagine.

So many Christians have that mentality of spiritual invulnerability. They feel in their heart they are justified for their moment of weakness. They say to themselves the right things and they know how to cover the failure up. It probably won't be a Prophet that exposes the truth, but the truth will have life-altering ramifications when exposed. It will change every aspect of your life from top to bottom. It will rob you of your emotional stability, your profession, your livelihood, your reputation, and so much more.

That's why we need to be careful in our spiritual routines. If we begin to believe we are untouchable we put ourselves in position for failure. Whatever your weakness is the devil desires to capitalize on it. He is the great manipulator and can turn your world upside down in just a moment. That is why Paul reminds us that in our weaknesses God is strong. In other words, He knows how to give you the ability to deal with your shortcomings if you will lean on Him. None of us are immune to failure. It can happen to the best of us. So understand who you are in Jesus and trust in Him. When the opportunity for failure presents itself, call on His name. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.

But if you fail, admit it and do what's right. Don't be blackmailed into confessing; just get the failure under the blood and move on. Make the restitution you should to those you have hurt, submit to whatever discipline to correct the problem, and know that God will forgive you if you ask. Sure there will always be whispers from those who think they are above falling, but if it's under the blood who cares. I'm glad that God is my final judge and not men, because what men won't forgive, God doesn't even remember.