You can see tiny plant parasites dwelling in it. While it appears harmless and non-threatening to the growing plant, the hidden parasites continue to wreak havoc day by day, until the leaves are all chewed up.
Have you ever gone cherry picking? I haven’t, literally. Cherry picking what to believe in Scripture is a constant landmine. We can’t choose what is true or false in the Word of God since Jesus claimed to be the truth and The Word of God is a testimony of who He is.
Cherry picking from Scripture leads a lot of believers into trouble which will cause them to wander in the wilderness and feel distant from God. The duration depends on one’s willing cooperation to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.
This rotting, desiccating fruit will eventually affect the good ones if it remains in the bunch. Remember Achan? He has done something in secret which affected the whole community (Joshua 7). Thinking no one will find out, the Spirit of God exposed the truth. He will not allow a believer to linger in a state of rebellion by continuing to lie to everyone. While the lie remains, there will be severe consequences in a believer’s life.
“And Joshua said, “Alas, Sovereign Lord, why did you ever bring this people across the Jordan to deliver us into the hands of the Amorites to destroy us? If only we had been content to stay on the other side of the Jordan! 8 Pardon your servant, Lord. What can I say, now that Israel has been routed by its enemies? 9 The Canaanites and the other people of the country will hear about this and they will surround us and wipe out our name from the earth. What then will you do for your own great name?”
10 The Lord said to Joshua, “Stand up! What are you doing down on your face? 11 Israel has sinned; they have violated my covenant, which I commanded them to keep. They have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen, they have lied, they have put them with their own possessions. 12 That is why the Israelites cannot stand against their enemies; they turn their backs and run because they have been made liable to destruction. I will not be with you anymore unless you destroy whatever among you is devoted to destruction.
13 “Go, consecrate the people. Tell them, ‘Consecrate yourselves in preparation for tomorrow; for this is what the Lord, the God of Israel, says: There are devoted things among you, Israel. You cannot stand against your enemies until you remove them.”
Joshua 7:7-13
He buried something that was destined for destruction. Apologizing for something and including another lie in the apology is digging oneself deeper into a hole.
REPENT! If you are entangled in a lie, a cover-up which involved making others believe your lies, only the truth will liberate you. Keeping the lie is giving the devil a stronghold in your life.
“He who covers his sins will not prosper, But whoever confesses and forsakes them will have mercy.”
Proverbs 28:13