From the beginning, people have tried to excuse and hide sin. After he sinned, Adam said “the wife You gave me is the one who. . .” Eve exclaimed, “the serpent You created. . .” This story clearly shows how Adam and Eve, rather than take responsibility for their sin, made excuses.

No one likes to die, or to see his or her loved ones taken in death. How can we say we dislike death, and yet at the same time like or justify sin? Let us remember that death came because of sin. “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.” Romans 5:12. When sin is finally eradicated, death will disappear completely. Therefore, we have no reason to hide, justify, excuse or explain sin, “’For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” Romans 6:23

“The tempter’s agency is not to be accounted an excuse for one wrong act. Satan is jubilant when he hears the professed followers of Christ making excuses for their deformity of character. It is these excuses that lead to sin. There is no excuse for sinning. A holy temper, a Christlike life, is accessible to every repenting, believing child of God.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 311

NEVER HIDE YOUR SIN

“If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.” 1 John 1:8–10

“When men apostatize from the truth, many will raise the question, What is the reason this has happened? And when they can find no reason for apostasy, they will be inclined to believe that the apostates have never had a genuine experience in the truth and cause of God, that they were wholly insincere in their professions; but this is not safe reasoning. What was it caused Satan to rebel? Was there any just reason that could be assigned for his sin? The place where sin originated has been pointed out, but the reason for sin cannot be found; for there is no reason for its existence. It is written of Satan, ‘Thou wast perfect in all thy ways from the day that thou wast created, till iniquity was found in thee.’ All who apostatize are destitute of any real excuse. Their apostasy will be manifested in rebellion and self-exaltation, as it was seen in the first apostate. Of him it is written, ‘Thine heart was lifted up because of thy beauty; thou hast corrupted thy wisdom by reason of thy brightness.’” –The Signs of the Times,  September 18, 1893

CALL SIN BY ITS RIGHT NAME.

“And Joshua said unto Achan, My son, give, I pray thee, glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession unto  Him; and tell me now what thou hast done; hide it not from me.” Joshua 7:19

“When the church is in difficulty, when coldness and spiritual declension exist, giving occasion for the enemies of God to triumph, then, instead of folding their hands and lamenting their unhappy state, let its members inquire if there is not an Achan in the camp. With humiliation and searching of heart, let each seek to discover the hidden sins that shut out God’s presence.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 497

“The sin of one man caused Israel to be beaten before the enemy. Something more than prayer was required. They were to get up and cleanse the camp of Israel.” –Conflict and Courage, p. 120

“The love of God will never lead to the belittling of sin; it will never cover or excuse an unconfessed wrong. Achan learned too late that God’s law, like its Author, is unchanging. It has to do with all our acts and thoughts and feelings. It follows us, and reaches every secret spring of action. By indulgence in sin, men are led to lightly regard the law of God. Many conceal their transgressions from their fellow men, and flatter themselves that God will not be strict to mark iniquity. But His law is the great standard of right, and with it every act of life must be compared in that day when God shall bring every work into judgment with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil. Purity of heart will lead to purity of life. All excuses for sin are vain. Who can plead for the sinner when God testifies against him?” –Sons and Daughters of God, p. 214

NEVER SACRIFICE PRINCIPLE TO AVOID OFFENCE

In the first century, true Christians faced conformity and compromise of principles within their church. What did they do? We read that “After a long and severe conflict, the faithful few decided to dissolve all union with the apostate church if she still refused to free herself from falsehood and idolatry. They saw that separation was an absolute necessity if they would obey the word of God. They dared not tolerate errors fatal to their own souls, and set an example which would imperil the faith of their children and children’s children.” –The Great Controversy, p. 45

Those who do speak out against sin can count on being called uncompromising and legalistic by some and should not be surprised to hear these words: “Don’t be a fanatic.” We should answer: “Make not provision for the flesh, to fulfil the lusts thereof.” Romans 13:14. Wanting to avoid even the appearance of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22) we need to stand firm, whatever the cost may be.

A kind, well-meaning rebuke is of great value. Often when we see a brother sinning, it is at first difficult to say anything for fear of offending that brother. This attitude is of the devil. He is full of flattery and has only good to say to the sinner. He rocks them to sleep in his cradle, comforting them with the thought that they can be saved in their sin. They need not make a change in their character. We cannot compromise either, to avoid persecution.

“Jesus Himself never purchased peace by compromise. His heart overflowed with love for the whole human race, but He was never indulgent to their sins. He was too much their friend to remain silent while they were pursuing a course that would ruin their souls,—the souls He had purchased with His own blood. He labored that man should be true to himself, true to his higher and eternal interest. The servants of Christ are called to the same work, and they should beware lest, in seeking to prevent discord, they surrender the truth. They are to ‘follow after the things which make for peace’ (Romans 14:19); but real peace can never be secured by compromising principle. And no man can be true to principle without exciting opposition. A Christianity that is spiritual will be opposed by the children of disobedience. But Jesus bade His disciples, ‘Fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul.’” –The Desire of Ages, p. 356

Experience of Aaron in the wildness

During the 40 days Moses was on Mount Sinai, Aaron, together with all the people, began to worry about his delay. “Feeling their helplessness in the absence of their leader, they returned to their old superstitions. . . . Among the objects regarded by the Egyptians as symbols of deity was the ox or calf; and it was at the suggestion of those who had practiced this form of idolatry in Egypt that a calf was now made and worshiped. The people desired some image to represent God, and to go before them in the place of Moses. God had given no manner of similitude of Himself, and He had prohibited any material representation for such a purpose. . . .

“In the absence of Moses, the judicial authority had been delegated to Aaron, and a vast crowd gathered about his tent, with the demand, ‘Make us gods, which shall go before us; for as for this Moses, the man that

brought us up out of the land of Egypt, we wot not what is become of him.’ . . .

“Such a crisis demanded a man of firmness, decision, and unflinching courage; one who held the honor of God above popular favor, personal safety, or life itself. But the present leader of Israel was not of this character. Aaron feebly remonstrated with the people, but his wavering and timidity at the critical moment only rendered them the more determined. . . . A few who ventured to denounce the proposed image making as idolatry, were set upon and roughly treated, and in the confusion and excitement they finally lost their lives.

“Aaron feared for his own safety; and instead of nobly standing up for the honor of God, he yielded to the demands of the multitude. His first act was to direct that the golden earrings be collected from all the people and brought to him, hoping that pride would lead them to refuse such a sacrifice. But they willingly yielded up their ornaments; and from these he made a molten calf, in imitation of the gods of Egypt.” —Patriarchs and Prophets, pp. 315–317

How often we encounter such situations, and how sad when a brother of many years of experience, who demands respect from people at a spiritual level, sins and acts contrary to God’s honor, despite repeated admonition and warning from his subordinates. Excuses such as, “The people caused me to act like that,” are given; and the few who stand firmly for God’s honour are usually not regarded or listened to. Finally, an attempt is made to kill them spiritually. “God does not accept the most splendid service unless self is laid upon the altar, a living, consuming sacrifice.” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 7, p. 248–249

“How often, in our own day, is the love of pleasure disguised by a ‘form of godliness’! A religion that permits men, while observing the rites of worship, to devote themselves to selfish or sensual gratification, is as pleasing to the multitudes now as in the days of Israel. And there are still pliant Aarons, who, while holding positions of authority in the church, will yield to the desires of the unconsecrated, and thus encourage them in sin. . . . To justify himself, Aaron endeavored to make the people responsible for his weakness in yielding to their demand; but notwithstanding this, they were filled with admiration of his gentleness and patience. But God seeth not as man sees. Aaron’s yielding spirit and his desire to please had blinded his eyes to the enormity of the crime he was sanctioning. His course in giving his influence to sin in Israel cost the life of thousands. . . .

“Of all the sins that God will punish, none are more grievous in His sight than those that encourage others to do evil. God would have His servants prove their loyalty by faithfully rebuking transgression, however painful the act may be. Those who are honored with a divine commission are not to be weak, pliant timeservers. They are not to aim at self-exaltation, or to shun disagreeable duties, but to perform God’s work with unswerving fidelity.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 317, 323–324

“If Aaron had had courage to stand for the right, irrespective of consequences, he could have prevented that apostasy. If he had unswervingly maintained his own allegiance to God, if he had cited the people to the perils of Sinai, and had reminded them of their solemn covenant with God to obey His law, the evil would have been checked. But his compliance with the desires of the people and the calm assurance with which he proceeded to carry out their plans, emboldened them to go to greater lengths in sin than had before entered their minds.” –Conflict and Courage, p. 98

What a solemn warning in Isaiah 56:10–11! The Lord uses very strong language—humanly, one would say that it is an insult—but Heaven says and means what is fit:  “His watchmen are blind: they are all ignorant, they are all dumb dogs, they cannot bark; sleeping, lying down, loving to slumber. Yea, they are greedy dogs which can never have enough, and they are shepherds that cannot understand: they all look to their own way, every one for his gain, from his quarter.”

We are a very fortunate generation, because God has so mercifully given us all the evidences of the end time so we can make a definite decision now and for forever. All the language used to rebuke, admonish, warn, and plead is for our salvation. Shall we not awake from spiritual slumber or death and take a decided stand for true revival and reformation in these last trying days? God will use only those people who genuinely hate nothing but sin, who will not be bribed or bought, who will always be on God’s side, even though the situation is unfavorable, who will put self aside and depend on God.

The Spirit of Prophecy declares: “But sin is not to be lightly regarded. The Lord has commanded us not to suffer wrong upon our brother. He says, ‘If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him.’ Luke 17:3. Sin is to be called by its right name, and is to be plainly laid out before the wrongdoer.” –Christ’s Object Lessons, p. 248

“Those who are true to God need not fear the power of men nor the enmity of Satan. In Christ their eternal life is secure. Their only fear should be lest they surrender the truth, and thus betray the trust with which God has honored them.” –The Desire of Ages, p. 356

“But if the sins of the people are passed over by those in responsible positions, His frown will be upon them, and the people of God, as a body, will be held responsible for those sins. In His dealings with His people in the past the Lord shows the necessity of purifying the church from wrongs. One sinner may diffuse darkness that will exclude the light of God from the entire congregation. When the people realize that darkness is settling upon them, and they do not know the cause, they should seek God earnestly, in great humility and self-abasement, until the wrongs which grieve His Spirit are searched out and put away.” –Testimony Treasures, vol. 1, p. 334

REPENT BEFORE IT IS TOO LATE

“Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out.” Acts 3:19

“So long as they can conceal their transgressions from their fellow men, many, like Achan, feel secure, and flatter themselves that God will not be strict to mark iniquity. All too late their sins will find them out in that day when they shall not be purged with sacrifice or offering forever. When the records of heaven shall be opened, the Judge will not in words declare to man his guilt, but will cast one penetrating, convicting glance, and every deed, every transaction of life, will be vividly impressed upon the memory of the wrongdoer. The person will not, as in Joshua’s day, need to be hunted out from tribe to family, but his own lips will confess his shame. The sins hidden from the knowledge of men will then be proclaimed to the whole world.” –Patriarchs and Prophets, p. 498

“For godly sorrow produces repentance leading to salvation, not to be regretted; but the sorrow of the world produces death. 2 Corinthians 7:10. . . . There are many professed Christians whose confessions of sin are similar to that of Achan. They will, in a general way, acknowledge their unworthiness, but they refuse to confess the sins whose guilt rests upon their conscience, and which have brought the frown of God upon His people.” –To Be Like Jesus, p. 364

“It is the inclination to excuse our moral defects that leads to the cultivation of sin. We must never forget that God ascribes sin to the one who transgresses; it is not registered against Satan, but against the sinner. God never accepts the agency of Satan as an excuse for the committal of one sin. When there is any excuse for a seemingly wrong act, it is not sin. Satan triumphs when he hears the professed follower of Christ offering excuses for his defects of character. Sin unrepented of, unconfessed, can never be blotted from the books of God’s record.” –The Signs of the Times, December 13, 1899  

John warns us in Revelation 3:19: “As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.”

Dear reader, “God calls upon you to be zealous and repent of your half-heartedness. Strive to walk wisely, in a perfect way. Begin and end each day with earnest prayer and close self-examination. Compare your life and character with the law of God, mark where its precepts condemn you, and set to work at once to correct the wrong by repentance toward God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. Wash your robes of character, and make them white in the blood of the Lamb. Let your words be well chosen. Put away all lightness, trifling, and irreverence.” –The  Signs of the Times, October 4, 1883

Finally brethren, “Have you fallen into sin? Then without delay seek God for mercy and pardon. . . . Mercy is still extended to the sinner. The Lord is calling to us in all our wanderings: ‘Return, ye backsliding children, and I will heal your backslidings.’” –Testimonies for the Church, vol. 5, p.  177

May grace be upon us to redeem the time. Amen.

Victor Shumbusho, DR Congo and Jenifer Akello, Uganda