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“Lesson 6 - How Darkness Affects Your Life”
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Lesson 6 - How Darkness Affects Your Life
01/15/2012
Introduction:
During the fall of 2000, the football world found itself in a buzz over Virginia Tech quarterback Michael Vick. His story was inspirational. Growing up in the Newport News, VA projects the young Vick turned to sports as an outlet from the violence and drug abuse that surrounded his family and friends. Leaving his college career behind early for the NFL, Vick was the hottest candidate in the 2001 draft. He was chosen as the first overall pick, something never before achieved by an African American, and during his six year career in Atlanta, Vick led the Falcons to two playoff appearances. It was the ultimate American “rags to riches” story. Rewarded with a $130 million contract, the most lucrative in the NFL at the time, Vick was flying high. Surrounded by “friends” who promised to make him even more money by marketing his image, he spent lavishly and mingled with those of questionable reputation. As he developed his “bad boy” reputation, his years in Atlanta were not without controversy. But nothing could compare to the disgust and righteous anger of the nation when Vick was implicated and later arrested on federal dog fighting charges. On August 24, 2007 Vick pleaded guilty as charged. In his plea agreement, he admitted to being guilty in every respect: killing animals who wouldn’t fight by beating, electrocuting, shooting, drowning, and hanging. Vick also admitted that it was largely his money (received in a signing bonus from the Falcons) that financed the illegal operation. While he awaited sentencing, Vick failed a random drug test. His employer sued to get back the signing bonus they gave him. Vick’s life was crumbling and he didn’t seem to care. On December 10, 2007 Vick was sentenced to a 23 month stay in the federal prison in Leavenworth, KS. When Vick went to prison people cheered. In late 2007, besides President George W. Bush, perhaps no one was more disliked in America than Michael Vick. The most vocal of critics called for his execution.?1
Released in July 2009, Vick recounted what it was like inside prison walls. “The first day I walked into prison, and he slammed that door, I knew, you know, the magnitude of the decisions that I made, and the poor judgment, and what I, you know, allowed to happen to the animals. And, you know, it’s no way of, you know, explaining, you know, the hurt and the guilt that I felt. And that was the reason I cried so many nights. And that put it all into perspective.?2 What I did, you know, being away from my family, letting so many people down. I let myself down, you know, not being out on the football field, being in a prison bed, in a prison bunk, writing letters home, you know. That wasn’t my life. That wasn’t the way that things was supposed to be. And all because of the so-called culture that I thought was right -- that I thought it was cool. And I thought it was, you know, it was fun, and it was exciting at the time. It all led to me laying in a prison bunk by myself with no one to talk to but myself.” When asked who was to blame for his actions, Vick squarely said, “I blame me.”?3
Vick didn’t learn the magnitude of his transgressions until it was too late. Due to his poor judgment and arrogant attitude he lost almost everything. Recounting the way he lived before his conviction, Vick said his life would not have changed without being caught. He ignored repeated warnings of his mother, saying her words went “in one ear and out the other.” “The best thing for me, that ever happened to me up to this point, as crazy as it may sound, was me being shipped off to Kansas. Because other than that, I wasn’t going to change. I wasn’t going to get all the people away from me that was leeches and wanted to be around. I wasn’t going to stop fighting dogs. There was nothing nobody could have done to change my situation but the man upstairs, who said, ‘Listen, before this goes any further, I’m going to take all this away from you for a while.’”?4
Darkness most certainly has its affects. While we may have never heard the cold metal clang of a prison door close behind us, we all know what it is like to be in bondage to sin. When we fall prey to sin’s enticement, at first things are good. Sin is fun and exciting. It is edgy and hip. It promises to be fulfilling and enrich us. It just feels right. Then, the thrill begins to fade or the law comes calling. When it has finally finished its course, we are left alone to deal with the consequences. Now the shame, guilt, and remorse weigh down on us. Reality presents itself and we see our sin for the raw sewage it is. It is truly an awful moment when we face the fact that Satan has left us trapped inside, miserable, cold and alone.
These are critical moments. In the darkest and most desperate of situations, we each have a decision to make. How we react depends on our willingness to resist Satan. The easy thing would be to give up, push God out of the picture (like Cain and Saul did), and go our own way. Some choose to walk down this path, deluded by the lie that promotes the idea it would be better to trade the temporary pain of embarrassment for the continual pain that comes with unconfessed sin. In these pivotal moments, the harder thing to do is choose a better path. Will we swallow our pride and invite God back into our life? Will we admit our sin? When we make disastrous mistakes, we can always come back to God. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God, since he always lives to make intercession for them, Hebrews 7.25. See also Luke 15.11-24.
How does darkness affect us? How can we overcome and find victory?
Darkness capitalizes on the embarrassing aspects of sin.
There is a deep psychological affect associated with holding things in. After his sin with Bathsheba and subsequent coverup by killing Uriah, David found himself in agony and emotional distress. He was physically ill and mentally disturbed. The last thing he wanted was to have his adultery and murderous actions exposed. By covering his sin, David knowingly handed over control of his life to Satan. While he may have tried to justify himself, he was dying inside. Well, I may not be perfect, but at least I’m not like ________. Or, other than this, look at all the good I’ve done for God. Justification, rationalization, and comparison are all tools we use to sugar coat the poison Satan feeds us after he has us inside his trap.
Struggling and writhing in the pain of remorse, David’s failure to confess his sin was devastating. For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long. For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was dried up as by the heat of summer, Psalm 32.3-4. O LORD, rebuke me not in your anger, nor discipline me in your wrath For your arrows have sunk into me, and your hand has come down on me. There is no soundness in my flesh because of your indignation; there is no health in my bones because of my sin. For my iniquities have gone over my head; like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me. My wounds stink and fester because of my foolishness, I am utterly bowed down and prostrate; all the day I go about mourning. For my sides are filled with burning, and there is no soundness in my flesh. I am feeble and crushed; I groan because of the tumult of my heart, Psalms 38.1–8. David also said: For I know my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you may be justified in your words and blameless in your judgment, Psalm 51.3-4. Other passages noting David’s attitude when struggling with his sin are found in Psalm 40.12 and 41.4. Concealed sin is like a cancer - it eats away and destroys us from within. Until David found the courage to deal with his sin, his life was slowly draining away. Imagine the scene. Here is the great king of Israel now living in the shadows of his own palace. Because of his direct disobedience to God, sin had shriveled him into something he was never destined to be.
Embarrassment and shame are God given emotions to push us toward repentance. But like every other thing, Satan has a way of twisting these emotions into something God never desired. In order to entice us to cover our sin, Satan exploits our personal pride and discourages us from admitting our sin to anyone. Satan uses fear to keep us inside his trap. In essence, our pride and stubbornness are turned into our own personal prison. What if someone else finds out? What will they think of me? I’ll lose my position and influence. I could lose my family and my job. And Satan’s list goes on and on. If Satan succeeds in scaring us with these unknowns, he will bury us even deeper in sin. How? Consider how we quickly want to cover or deny our faults and failures. Sin moves us into “react” mode. We cover up, smear over, and scheme until we find ourselves lost inside a maze we can never escape. This downward spiral always starts with silence. One writer has said, “Silence always leads to more pain and guilt festering inside. It always corrodes away our soul. It corrodes away our spirit, and it always, always, always begins to affect other parts of our lives.”?5 Today, so many are struggling with family issues, compulsive habits, and sexual addiction. They want out. Fear holds them back. Lying there in misery, Satan says that silence is the best way to handle it.
But that’s simply another lie. Covering our sin and living in denial is extremely hard work. It only leads to more sin. If we make the choice to believe Satan, sin continues to pile up and the consequences become more devastating. Our spouse, children, co-workers, church, and family, can all be made to suffer from our indiscretions. In the Old Testament we read how Achan’s indiscretion resulted in his entire family being executed along with him, Joshua 6-7. If you are caught in the trap of sin, the best course of action is to stop flailing around, which only adds to your pain. Quit digging deeper the hole you’re in. Stop before you hurt yourself more, bury yourself deeper, and hurt those around you. In this life, you are never too far away for God’s rescue.
The Releasing Power of Confession.
Whoever conceals his transgressions will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will obtain mercy, Proverbs 28.13. If you’ve been trapped by Satan’s snare, there is absolutely no way you can release yourself. You cannot undo what has been done. The first step in being extricated from the situation is admitting there is a problem. There will be no success until there is a reckoning with yourself concerning the reality of the situation. Isn’t this what the prodigal son did? How many of my father’s hired servants have more than enough bread, but I perish here with hunger, Luke 15.17b. This was the painful truth. Someone has said, “Blessed are those who know they are in trouble and have sense enough to admit it.”?6 The first step in being released from the prison of pride is to admit failure.
Once personal realization and admission for the problem has occurred, the next step is to take the matter before God, Luke 15.18. We must be willing to admit our spiritual poverty. We come to God deeply stained with sin. David said, create in me a clean heart, O God, Psalm 51.10. This Psalm is amazingly powerful. Imagine the scene. Here is David, the great and mighty king, approaching God as a humble beggar, pleading for mercy. All of David’s defenses had been lowered. All responsibility had been assumed. There was no denying and no blame-shifting. His words are full of simple honesty. They are:
- Emphatic: I have sinned, 51.4.
- Specific: Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, 51.14.
- Frank: (I have) done what is evil in your sight, 51.4.
- Directed to God: 51.1, 10, 14-15.
- Seeking God’s forgiveness: 51.7, 10-11.?7
Paul wrote, Blessed are those whose lawless deeds are forgiven, and whose sins are covered; blessed is the man against whom the Lord will not count his sin, Romans 4.7-8. There is a purpose in taking the matter before God. The aim of confession is not to erase or ignore the consequences of sin, it is to restore joy. This was David’s desire: Let me hear joy and gladness; let the bones that you have broken rejoice, and Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit, Psalm 51.8, 12. “Secret sin, buried in the past, disturbs the present. Confessed sin, exhumed from the past, brings peace to the present. This is what David learned, and, with God's help, this is what we will learn as well.”?8
When we get the matter in the open before God, we find immediate relief. If we say 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, 1 John 1.8-9. Trust in the fact that God receives every broken heart. Let your contrition move you to confession and the amendment of your life. “Confession isn’t doing something about our sin; rather, it means admitting that we can’t do anything about our sin. It’s admitting we need a Savior. We need what only Jesus can bring us, which is healing.”
Counteracting the Effects of Darkness Inside the Spiritual Family
Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working, James 5.16. The final section of James’ epistle contains God’s blueprint for what is to take place inside each local family of believers. It could be summarized as an atmosphere of close knit togetherness, where each other’s lives were shared openly. These verses describe in detail what Paul must have meant by calling Christians to rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep, and live in harmony with each other, Romans 12.15-16a. They are also an application of the principle Paul communicated in Galatians 6.1-2: Brothers, if anyone is caught in any transgression, you who are spiritual should restore him in a spirit of gentleness. Keep watch on yourself, lest you too be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.
James instructed those who were:
- Suffering - to seek prayer, 5.13a.
- Cheerful - to sing praises, 5.13b.
- Sick - to call on the Shepherds for anointing, 5.14.
- Caught in sin - to confess, so that you may be healed, 5.16a.
These activities were to be done with a specific purpose in mind. By alerting others of their physical and spiritual ailments, each Christian could count on the help and encouragement of their brothers and sisters. Christians have been instructed to pray for each other. It is hard to know what to pray for if the specifics are not communicated. Confession aids the sense of togetherness inside the local church. It reminds the Christian that they are not alone in their struggles. We all cope with the weakness of the flesh. We all fall prey to Satan’s devices. We all have a story to tell. This sense of brotherhood helps us grow stronger with each other and for the future. Together we affirm our faith and trust in God.
Has today’s church grasped the intention of the Holy Spirit? Are we truly committed to building this type of atmosphere? For example, what keeps us from confessing our sins before others? Some Christians have little sense of togetherness or identification with each other as spiritual brothers and sisters. The most association they have with fellow Christians is 2-3 hours per week inside the confines of a church building. Think of the setting for a moment. Everyone gathers together a few minutes before the appointed time, dressed their best and giving the appearance that they’re problem free. After a quick few moments of small talk, all the correct religious procedures are conducted, and a message of strict adherence to a religious system is preached. Then, after a few more moments of small talk and visiting, members go home and for another week fend for themselves with little or no connection to those inside the church. There’s little chance for healing and encouragement for any wounds that come along. While this may sound cynical, it is an unfortunate reality that exists in some places.
Much of this problem originates in a performance based approach that concentrates on external actions rather than personal transformation and relationship with God. As time progresses, the continual emphasis on performance generates a toxic atmosphere inside a church family, one void of mutual love, compassion and vulnerability. It results in the breakdown of the principle in Galatians 6.2. This creates a fear of failure that causes individuals to wear a mask, pretending that they’ve got it all together spiritually. An unhealthy competition is created where individuals compare their righteousness to each other, instead of Christ. Constant biting and devouring causes spiritual families to be torn apart through personal criticism, comparative righteousness, and expectation of the worst. This is a direct result of a legalistic approach to spirituality.
The toxicity of legalism breaks down a person’s willingness to share their struggles with those who should be the first to help and encourage. A works based mindset shuts down confession. No wonder so many are hurting inside our church families! In the church, if we are to change the sterile atmosphere that discourages the practice of James 5.16, we must cease personal criticism of the person in sin. Criticism does not take away sin. Love, encouragement, and instruction motivate a person to get their sin problem out in the open so it can be handed over to the healing power of Almighty God.
When a local church family relates to God as Father, there is a growing a spirit of love, accountability, and gentle nurturing that is conducive to spiritual transformation. Because of their relationship with God, mature Christians understand the need to pick people up from their sin, Galatians 6.1. This stands strongly opposed to the law based spirit that enforces such high standards that people are forced to work overtime to keep from falling down. One spirit is encouraging. The other is rooted in fear. One spirit builds up. The other tears down.
Conclusion
Now having completed two seasons for the Philadelphia Eagles, Michael Vick is making progress down the long road of recovery. He credits his reformation to his new found relationship with God and the mentoring of Tony Dungy, former coach of the Indianapolis Colts who serves as his moral and spiritual leader. Vick’s is, perhaps, one of the greatest stories of redemption of our time. He is scheduled to go off probation in May 2012 and was recently quoted, "I forget I'm on probation, because I live my life right and I don't do anything crazy no more.?9" And at least publicly, Vick has appeared to learn his lesson. He has left old friends behind and is now an advocate for the humane treatment of animals. He has a long way to go. He may never live down his critics.
Before criticizing others who have been caught inside the trap of sin, remember one thing. You are them. While you may not have committed the same act they have, you too have done some atrocious things before God. Let this realization drive you with a sense of humility. Let it cause you to move with grace and mercy toward others you interact with. Only these spiritual virtues can neutralize the effects of sin.
Questions for Discussion
1. Describe your emotions in the moments after you have realized the gravity of your sin.
2. Why is your decision on how to react in these moments so critical?
3. How do justification, rationalization, and compassion hold us in Satan’s trap?
4. What is God’s purpose for shame and embarrassment?
5. How does Satan twist our emotions when we are caught in sin?
6. How is covering sin and living in denial hard work?
7. What is the first step we must take in order to be released from sin?
8. What is the purpose for confession?
9. What is the principle communicated in James 5.13-16; Galatians 6.1-2; and Romans 12.15-16a?
10. Why do spiritual families struggle with the application of these principles?
11. How does a “works based” mindset shut down confession?
12. Why is a critical atmosphere so toxic to a local church family?
1 Norman, J. (2010). “Tucker Carlson: Michael Vick Deserves to Die.” Retrieved 01/12/2012 from http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-31751_162-20026769-10391697.html
2 Brown, J. (2009) “Michael Vick’s ’60 Minutes’ Interview” Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Retrieved 01/12/2012 from http://www.ajc.com/sports/michael-vicks-60-minutes-116871.html
3 Video of Vick’s ’60 Minutes’ Interview can be found here: http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id=5245553n&tag=mncol;list;1
4 Florio, M. (2010). “Vick Calls Prison ‘The Best Thing That Ever Happened to Me.’” ProFootball Talk. Retrieved 01/12/2012 from http://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2010/10/03/vick-calls-prison-the-best-thing-that-ever-happened-to-me/
5 Wilson, P. (2012). “Breaking the Silence.” Without Wax. Retrieved 01/09/2012 from http://withoutwax.tv/2012/01/09/breaking-the-silence/
6 Lucado, M. (2002). “When You Can’t Hide Your Mistakes.” Up Words. http://www.maxlucado.com
7 Graham, B. (1997) “Confession of Sins” The Bible Doctrine of Sin. Temple Terrace: Florida College Press. 126.
8 Lucado.
9 Heck, V (2012). “Vick’s Probation Almost Over.” Yahoo Sports. Retrieved 01/12/2012 from http://sports.yahoo.com/nfl/news?slug=ycn-10825531
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