self-deception...

I confess... I watched way too many hours of television yesterday... catching up on missed episodes of a crime drama...

But as I watched... (episode... after... episode... after episode...) a theme emerged... the reason so many were in so much trouble... albeit fictional... was self-deception...

I'm a law abiding citizen... protested the young woman picked up for questioning from her crack-addict boyfriend's apartment... herself shaking from withdrawal as she spoke...

I'm not a thief... I was just making ends meet till I got my break... insisted the young man who preyed on those who contacted him through an on-line dating service...

I'm a good mother... I'm a good mother... insisted the woman who helped her oldest son cover up the murder of her thirteen-year-old transgender son... murdered in a fit of rage... by his brother...

Not to mention the prostitute who referred to herself as... a professional conversationalist...

(Yes... I watched way too much TV... yesterday...)

After about the third episode... I realized... self-deception... is what keeps so many separated from their Savior... 

It is hard to admit... sin... failure... to meet up to your own ideal of self...

The human race... is masterful... at lying to itself...

To come near to God... enter His presence... there is no deceiving oneself... His Light shines bright... on the dark places in our lives... there is no hiding... but by His grace... in that bright... painful... realization... is the hope... the Savior... willing to wash it all away...

Blessed are the poor in spirit,

for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Matthew 5:3

(emphasis added)

If we just agree... with what He reveals... recognize our need... for a Savior... confess each sin... He points out... He sets us free...

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just

and will forgive our sins and purify us

from all unrighteousness.

1John 1:9

This promise is followed by another truth...

If we claim we have not sinned, we make him out to be a liar

and his word has no place in our lives.

1John 1:10

And this is exactly where many choose to stand... outside His Word... outside His grace... refusing life... and choosing... death... 

Yes... I watched way too much TV yesterday... but I'm not deceiving myself about it... and as always... He is faithful... even when I am not...