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The Three Most Difficult Words To Say

"A faithful church member wanted to know which word in the English language is the most difficult to say. His pastor suggested a few tongue twisters, but each time the old gentleman shook his head. Finally he answered his own question by spelling out the word w-r-o-n-g. Have you ever noticed how hard it is to get anyone to say, 'I am wrong'? "
- Encyclopedia of Sermon Illustrations

Did you ever notice that people will do everything to cover up a wrongdoing except admit that they were wrong? In order to appease a guilty conscience, they will shower the offended person with kind deeds and words, sacrifice their own comfort for a time to bless the other person, or speak kindly of them to others. In so doing, they fail to do the one thing necessary to bring cleansing and freedom to their souls; that is, to confess - "I was wrong."

1 John 1:9 - The Scriptures tell us that we are to admit our wrongdoing - "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

Nowhere does it say in the Bible that we are to act as if nothing ever happened or to sweep the offense under the proverbial rug. Time doesn't wash away sin - only the Blood of Jesus does. The guilt of the act doesn't go away through good deeds or kind actions. Sin was committed against God and another, and it must be verbally confessed. Peace and reconciliation between God and the offended party will not come until confession is made. Things won't be made aright until there is an admission of wrongdoing.

Proverbs 28:13 - The Scriptures also warn us - "He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

Does this mean that every one who is experiencing troubles in their lives must have hidden sin? Absolutely not!

However, if a person knowingly is aware that he has offended another and fails to make it right through the acknowledgement of the evil deed or word, the chances are that things will not go well in his or her life until confession is made to the parties involved. Mercy and pardon will be released at the admission of the wrongdoing and offense.

Should we run to every one against whom we have had an evil thought? No! No! No!
This would cause more problems or confusion - for the other party was not aware of the thoughts in the first place.

God, through His Word, is requiring us to take responsibility for our words and actions that may have hurt another. If we have wronged someone, then we are obligated before Him to make it right through the confession of our sin and unChristlike actions.

In the Scriptures, we read of two specific cases where there is admission and confession of sin. They are the situations concerning King David and the incident concerning the Prodigal Son -

1. David

2 Samuel 12:9-13 - "Wherefore hast thou despised the commandment of the LORD, to do evil in His sight? thou hast killed Uriah the Hittite with the sword, and hast taken his wife to be thy wife, and hast slain him with the sword of the children of Ammon. Now therefore the sword shall never depart from thine house; because thou hast despised Me, and hast taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be thy wife. Thus saith the LORD, Behold, I will raise up evil against thee out of thine own house, and I will take thy wives before thine eyes, and give them unto thy neighbor, and he shall lie with thy wives in the sight of this sun. For thou didst it secretly: but I will do this thing before all Israel, and before the sun. And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD..."

Notice that the word of the Lord to David through the Prophet Nathan clearly defines who he offended and how. God is very specific here. Through his sin, David offended God first of all("despised Me"), and secondly, he committed adultery with Bathsheba, Uriah's wife, and then took his life.

Notice that God calls sin for what it is. He doesn't mince His words here. He doesn't try, in any way, to be "soft" with David.

2 Samuel 12:13 - This servant of the Lord did evil, and it was only when he admitted his wrongdoing that God actually forgave him and released His mercy towards him - "And David said unto Nathan, I have sinned against the LORD. And Nathan said unto David, The LORD also hath put away thy sin; thou shalt not die."

Only when David confessed - "I have sinned" - I was wrong - did God then put away his sin!

We read in Psalm 51 - David's renowned Psalm of Penitence for his sins of adultery and murder - where he outrightly confesses his guilt and shame -

Psalm 51:3 - "For I acknowledge my transgressions: and my sin is ever before me."

If he would have failed to humble himself and admit his wrongdoing, then he most certainly would have died in his sins and been in Hell today.

In 2 Samuel 24:10, we once again read of an account where David committed an evil act in numbering the people. Afterwards, the Scriptures say that his heart smote him. At the instant of the recognition of his wrongdoing, he ran to the LORD and acknowledged his sin -

"And David's heart smote him after that he had numbered the people. And David said unto the LORD, I have sinned greatly in that I have done: and now, I beseech Thee, O LORD, take away the iniquity of thy servant; for I have done very foolishly."

Through the pride and covetousness of his own heart, he did that which was forbidden by God - he numbered the people of Israel. After nine months and twenty days when the numbering was finally accomplished, his heart smote him for what he had done. His response? "I have sinned greatly...I have done very foolishly." I was wrong!

2. Prodigal Son

Luke 15:13,17-19 - "And not many days after the younger son gathered all together, and took his journey into a far country, and there wasted his substance with riotous living... And when he came to himself, he said, How many hired servants of my father's have bread enough and to spare, and I perish with hunger! I will arise and go to my father, and will say unto him, Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before Thee. And am no more worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy hired servants."

Notice the extreme humility displayed here. The Prodigal Son wasn't trying to cover up his wrongdoing. He wasn't full of ideas on how to "butter up" to Dad when he got home. He wasn't scheming and conniving to see how he could sweep this evil under the rug - anything but admit that he was wrong.

No! There wasn't one ounce of pride in this man. He acknowledged that he blew it! Dad was right, and he was wrong. He certainly should have received and listened to his wise and godly counsel and not left home in the first place.

What did he plan on saying to his father when he saw him? "Father, I have sinned..." I was wrong. I hurt you. I offended you. I caused you much pain and heartache. I treated you unkindly. I have been so wicked, inappreciative, ungrateful, and rebellious.

Let's not miss the point which the Holy Ghost seems to be emphasizing through these two examples.

Sin is a great offense against the Holy One of Israel. Both David and the Prodigal Son recognized this -

1. David

2 Samuel 12:13 - "...I have sinned against the LORD..."
Psalm 51:4 - "Against Thee, Thee only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Thy sight..."

2. The Prodigal Son

Luke 15:18 - "...Father, I have sinned against heaven, and before thee."

Have you -
...wronged anyone?
...hurt, offended, or mistreated another?
...spoken unkindly or harshly?
...treated another in a unChristlike manner?

Are you guilty of vilifying another's reputation and character? What did you do about it?
Did you go and confess your sin to the offended party?
Or have you tried to sweep things under the rug, hoping that everything will be forgotten in due time?

The Scriptures tell us that we must confess our sins in order to be free from them. The guilt and shame of our evil actions will not simply go away. God has designed a manner in which sin is washed away. It is through the Blood of Jesus that cleanses at the admission of sin.

Perhaps today is the day of Reckoning for many.
Perhaps today is the day to make that phone call, write that letter or e-mail, or make that long-awaited visit.

You won't be sorry that you did.
You will experience such wonderful freedom when you step out and obey the Lord.
Don't hesitate another moment.

This is your day for a Miracle!
Go ahead and claim it for it will surely come as soon as you obey.

May God Bless His Word.
Connie
 

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