The Secret's Out--Posted 07/25/2006
The children of Israel had just defeated the city of Jericho, and there was no reason in the mind of their leader Joshua that they
could not conquer the small city of Ai also.
The only obstacle in the way was a small hidden sin of a little known man named Achan...
Joshua 6:18 says, "And ye, in any wise keep yourselves from the accursed thing, lest ye make yourselves accursed, when ye
take of the accursed thing, and make the camp of Israel a curse, and trouble it."
Joshua had received direct strategic instructions from God before the battle at Jericho. God gave step-by-step plans of how to
beat the enemy.
And it worked.
But, there was one small problem, this man Achan partook of the "accursed thing". The thing banned by God.
What could he have done that was so bad?
Plainly put, he did what he knew not to do!
All that was in the defeated city of Jericho, except the silver, gold, and vessels of brass and iron, were absolutely forbidden to be
taken.
That meant anything.
Joshua 7:20&21 tells what these things were that Achan had taken from Jericho.
"And Achan answered Joshua, and said, Indeed I have sinned against the Lord God of Israel, and thus and thus have I done:
When I saw among the spoils a goodly Babylonish garment, and two hundred shekels of silver, and a wedge of gold of fifty
shekels weight, then I coveted them, and took them; and, behold, they are hid in the earth in the midst of my tent, and the silver
under it."
There was to be no spoiling of goods in this battle, for this battle had been fought by the Lord. God tumbled the walls of Jericho,
not the men of Israel.
Achan knew what the requirements were for this battle and he chose to disobey direct commands from God, and from Joshua.
James 4:17 states, "Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin."
Achan had full understanding of God's expectations of obedience for this battle. He knew to do good, but did it not, so that thing
became sin.
Disobedience is not an option for a "Christian".
Willful neglect of God's commandments will send a soul to Hell.
Harsh, but true.
So many today think they can get by with half-heartedness towards God's rules.
When God told the Israelites to not partake of the "accursed thing", that is what He meant.
There was no loophole for Achan to find in God's commandment. There was no "grey area" in what God had required of him.
So it is in the lives of all mankind today.
What was an absolute in Achan's day still is today. You are held accountable to the same standards as the children of Israel were
in that time.
You may say, yeah, but that was the Old Testament, and now we live under grace. We are not required to abide by the old law
that was in effect in that day.
My friend, God does not change.
No, you don't have to live according to the "letter of the law", but you do need to abide by every principle and precept that God
intended to show through the law.
Achan found out all too quickly that he could not hide his transgression from the all-seeing-eye of God.
No sin goes by unnoticed in your life.
God sees it all. God hears it all. God knows it all.
Look at Joshua 7:10&11,"And the Lord said unto Joshua...Israel hath sinned, and they have also transgressed my covenant
which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they
have put it even among their own stuff." (paraphrased)
Basically, God said, "I saw it, I know all about it."
A songwriter said it very well years ago when he wrote, "You can't do wrong and get by, no matter how much you may try.
Nothing hidden can be, everything He doth see, you can't do wrong and get by."
Achan knew he was doing wrong; otherwise he would not have hidden it.
What sins are you hiding?
Maybe you are keeping them hidden from the pastor. Maybe from your spouse. You might be hiding them from mom and dad. Or
maybe even your children.
Are you ashamed of some part of your life because it conflicts with the Word of God?
What is it that you don't want those you work with to find out about?
Are you always faithful to God, even when no one is looking?
Or is there a little part of you, that is still "you"?
The greatest king of Israel, King David, was caught in a "secret sin" and it nearly ruined his life. Why?
Because he did not want to admit it!
But, he finally did.
David even wrote in Psalm 19:12,"Who can understand his errors? cleanse thou me from secret faults." (emphasis mine)
This was the man whom God called "the man after God's own heart". (Acts 13:22)
If he was subject to repenting over seemingly unseen wrongdoings then so are you.
Just because you may have not been caught, that does not mean you are not guilty.
No one but God saw Achan take the Babylonish garment and the money from Jericho, but it brought about defeat for the whole
nation of Israel.
Consider how your covered-up disobedience may affect others around you. You are not the only one affected by the things you
do, whether they are good or evil.
Achan's entire family was stoned alongside him for his transgression.
Simply ask yourself this question: Was it worth the forbidden treasures of Jericho for Achan and his entire family to die?
Now ask yourself this question: Is my unknown wrong worth the life of anyone I love?
My friend, what you do everyday affects many other people than just you.
If you have hidden sin in your life, you are destroying the lives of those around you also, by helping them to believe a lie.
You will be held accountable for every act you commit, every word you say, every place you go...everything in your life.
Stop hiding that thing...God sees it.
Be honest, it is not fun trying to hide a wrongdoing...from anyone. Why keep doing it?
Make it right today...do not wait any longer.
God is dealing with you now in mercy...don't wait until he deals in judgment and wrath.
II Corinthians 6:2 says,"...behold, NOW is the accepted time; behold, NOW is the day of salvation.)” (emphasis mine)