A truthful heart

A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing. (George Bernard Shaw)

Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. (James 3:2)

Have you ever made a mistake, attempted to cover it up the best you could, then stood your ground that you didn't make that mistake when someone discovered it? I certainly have! Remember that little person in your home named "Not Me"? I lived as the only child in the home after my brother and sister went out on their own and tried to blame things on 'Not Me' a lot. It never worked, though. Why? "Not Me" didn't exist and I did! Jesus isn't impressed by how well we mask our sins. He doesn't believe the "Not Me" excuse, either. We might be surprised by how quickly he heals those broken areas sins leaves if we'd admit our sins just a bit quicker!

"Not Me" isn't going to get us anywhere, is it? Excuses for our sinfulness only adds more foolishness to the foolishness that led to that sin in the first place! The quicker we admit our 'mistakes' or 'sins', the quicker we can begin the process of restoration. Sin moves us away from the heart of God - confession moves us toward his heart once again. Which direction would you want to travel? I know that confession means we take ownership of our failures, admitting we didn't think before we acted. It also means we will go to any length to no longer 'shift blame' for our weaknesses. We will own them, seeking God's help to overcome them, and move along knowing they are in full view of the one who can make beauty from those ashes.

As Paul points out, the tongue is hard to control. If we blame others for our own sins, we aren't only committing one sin, we are magnifying it with our lies that we weren't the ones at fault. While Shaw said making mistakes is honorable, I think Jesus would prefer we make a few less than we do. Yet, if we do err in judgment, taking those steps into sin, then we have an advocate who stands there ready to restore us when we admit our failure. The good news is that 'Not Me' doesn't live here anymore. The bad news is that I have no one to blame but myself! The better news is that when 'Not Me' moved out, truthfulness moved in. God can always work with a truthful heart. Just sayin!