“For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.” (1st Cor. 13:12)
You are not going to learn everything there is to know about someone when you first meet them, and it is very unlikely you will ever know everything about them ever, and even if you spend large sums of money and do extensive research, you may never know more than what they want you to know about them.
We all hold memories within ourselves that are what we consider private, and if no other person was involved in that memory and you never reveal it to anyone else in this life, that memory will die with you, and if I am correct, each one of you reading this short letter today just recalled a negative memory, either real or formulated in the imagination of your mind.
“Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.” (Romans 1:21)
Some of you have known people in your life for decades, whether it be family or friends, and there are things they do not know about you, the question is, do they need to?
“For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.” (Eph. 5:12)
I am a firm believer that if a brother or sister in Christ asks me a question about myself that I should answer it honestly, and the Scriptures back this up.
“Lie not one to another, seeing that ye have put off the old man with his deeds;” (Col. 3:9)
It should not matter what the question is, it should not matter how embarrassing it might be, how evil the deed done was, or how they may interpret it in their own mind, the consequence of the answer is left up to them, we are to speak truth always.
There is one thing I have noticed over the years though in two regards to this topic, the first is that the speaker fears they will be viewed differently by the one asking the questions, that embarrassment spoken of will cause fear in them of the possible loss of closeness they may hold with that person in the present moment.
The second is more commonplace sadly, the person asking the questions will expect remorse to be shown for those deeds of sin, and when it is not revealed, they will not understand the depth of forgiveness that has been given to you, and the conscience within you that is cleared because of the Lord’s forgiveness.
You fear revealing who you once were, they expect continual tears of regret.
And so, it is beyond rare that Galatians 6:2 is applied in many, if not most churches these days.
“Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfil the law of Christ.”
Can we live our lives for the glory of God if we live that life in a continuing pattern of shame of our past deeds forgiven at the cross? I am not saying that you must offer up the sins of your past if it is not necessary to at the moment, but if questioned about them by those you will spend eternity with, you should answer honestly to their questions.
If they are only, as it is called, being nosey, inquisitive for their own selfish reasons, then it is to their shame, your concern is with the truth, and the truth of your testimony of your life before Christ, and even those times you have fallen to temptation since He called you to Himself, must never be hidden.
“To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.” (Romans 16:27)
You have been forgiven, if they cannot accept that, let it be on their head.
We cover ourselves in lies my friends and it should not be so, when truth is revealed, it is the Almighty that should be glorified, He who endured the shame of the cross removed your shame that day, we should never be embarrassed to reveal that truth to others.
