The Proverbs of the Old Testament stress the importance of dealing with sin correctly. One who conceals or hides his/her sins will not be shown mercy (Prov. 28:13). Mercy is what we could all use now and at the end of time. The Hebrew word for conceal is kacah which originally meant to “fill up hollow places.” In other words, you are filling up hollow places for the purpose of covering up so that no one knows they were there. Adam and Eve did this – they hid from God (Genesis 3:8-10) because they were afraid. Another example is David who tried to cover up after his sin with Bathsheba (2 Samuel 11 – the cover up lasted about a year).

Generally, it is just a matter of time before un-confessed sin will take us down suddenly and without warning (Prov. 28:18). Verse 14 tells us that a hardened heart (one that refuses to acknowledge wrong-doing) “falls into trouble.” When we fail to handle sin correctly, and “sweep it under the rug,” we are merely piling sin upon sin. David went to terrible lengths to conceal his sin. Concealing sin leads to more sin and fear results (28:1), and our prayer life is impacted (28:9).

As such a lifestyle continues, the wise man describes the downward cycle of deceit and corruption. Prov. 21:8 reads, “The way of the guilty is devious, but the conduct of the innocent is upright.” Eventually, a deceitful heart will result. You cannot trust people who refuse to deal with sin. Given the right set of circumstances, they will deal deceitfully with you, also. Solomon writes in 21:10, “The wicked man craves evil; his neighbor gets no mercy from him.”

There’s no need to pretend to be something you’re not, or appear to be above making mistakes and sinning against God. As long as we are in the flesh, we will be tempted to walk in selfishness, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind. Accepting this fact does not excuse us from continuing in sin. We are not to give in or give up but repent and work toward improving ourselves. The good heart referenced in the Bible is the one that confesses and repents (1 John 1:7-9). The Greek word for repent (metanoia) means to change one’s heart, to think differently about something with a view to changing one’s present course or direction. The Hebrew word for confess (vadah) means “to hold out the hand, as in throwing a stone.” It was also used to mean “bemoaning” as in the wringing of the hands over something. The good heart is the heart that is bowed down with sorrow and humbly begs the forgiveness of a loving Father with the hope of never repeating it again. In 1 Corinthians 7:9-11, Paul describes a “godly sorrow” that leads to repentance. It is the brokenness and mourning over sin like David in Psalm 32 and Psalm 51. The worldly sorrow, on the other hand, is sorrow over what the sin will cost (embarrassment, loss of a sinful pleasure, etc) the individual. Rather than making changes from within that is reflected by a changed outward life, the change is forced outwardly to satisfy the expectations of family, church, or society. The fact that Jesus and the Father are grieved is never a consideration because the focus is on self.

Consider one more text from the Bible that gives us a description of true repentance and how to spot it– 2 Cor. 7:11. Here, it is not defined. It describes what it looks like.

First, it is described by the word “earnestness”—giving serious attention to a matter with great haste. The longer we put off the resolve to change our lives, the easier it becomes to ignore it.

Second, he uses the word from which we get our English word, “apology” (“defense”). It is translated here, “what eagerness to clear yourself.” The first point of dealing with the sin speedily is to put it behind us and restore fellowship with God and hopefully fellow human beings, if required.

Third, Paul writes, “yes, what indignation” – which speaks to one being sorely displeased and afflicted. The good heart described earlier will hate their sin and anything that led to it. It will remove the terrible thing once and for all. Thus, the changed life and different fruit that is borne is the product of this indignation.

Fourth, Paul uses the word, “alarm” (phobos) from which we get “phobia.” The good heart is frightened at the power of sin and the damage it does.

Fifth, he adds, “what longing” from the root that means “to yearn or crave.” The good repentant heart is the heart that longs to be right with God. Nothing in this world means as much as having the right relationship with God. Sin, that is, unrepentant and un-confessed sin, destroys that sweet fellowship.

Sixth, he uses the word from which we get “zeal” which means “to be hot.” We have used this word is the context of someone “being on fire” for something. Someone who is “on fire” is passionate and in this context reference is to passion to conform ourselves to God’s will.

Finally, he uses the word, “readiness.” The good heart is ready to do whatever it takes to correct the wrong. No cost is too great. No enemy is too formidable. The resolve to make it right is so great that they will not quibble about the challenges, the inconveniences, or the burdens.

Some may find this too discouraging because they have fought for themselves and self-respect so much that acknowledging sin is too debilitating. The reality is this – nothing is perfect in this world. That is by design. How we react to that imperfection is the measure of the heart within us. We will either acknowledge our need for mercy or reject any will higher than our own. We should be so grateful that God’s response to that good heart is not to give what is deserved, but to forgive. This is why it is critical to develop that heart that will react to God’s will and provide such great confidence that in Christ, we are declared righteous.

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