OUR SECRET SINS by C. Lawton

Seventh-day Adventist Publishing Association · Battle Creek, Mich. · Nov 1, 1877

OUR SECRET SINS.

By C. Lawton

DAVID, in Ps. 90:8, says, “Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance.” Also in Ps. 19:12, “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse thou me from secret faults.” David, like ourselves, was mortal, and had a fallen nature to contend with; and while contrasting his life with the perfect law of God, he no doubt saw many imperfections, and may have felt, as many of us do at the present time, that the work of overcoming is a great and difficult work. But now we have added to the weaknesses and infirmities of human nature, the power and malice of Satan, who is at war with the remnant of God’s people, and will take advantage of every weak point in our characters, and contest every inch of ground gained; and who, knowing that his time is short, will work with greater power than ever to deceive, and cast darkness and confusion over the minds of those who are trying to form a pure character, which will stand the test of the Judgment. Then, all the strength we can get from above, and all the efforts we can put forth ourselves, will fortify us none too strongly against the enemy.

Do we consider as we should that the solemn work of the Judgment is now going forward, and that the characters of all must soon pass the inspection of the Judge of all the earth? Then how appropriate and important is self-examination! We cannot too carefully inspect our hearts and motives; we should compare them closely with the great detector, God’s word, and see if we cannot find some secret sin lurking within, or some selfish motive, some impure desire, some unsanctified affection for the world or for some object displeasing to God. If we have a true sense of the perfection of character we must have, in order to meet the demands of God’s holy law by which we must be judged, we shall cry out as David did, “Search me, O Lord, and try me; and see if there is any wicked way in me, and cleanse me from all unrighteousness.”

I would hereby express my gratitude to God that this is the language of my own heart. May God send deep conviction into the hearts of all his people, to stir them up to close examination of their hearts and works, that when compared with his law, they may have the assurance that they will stand the examination in the Judgment.

C. LAWTON.

Jeff Co., N. Y.