Shining a Flashlight on Sin

**What is the light revealing in your life?**

And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them. For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret. But all things that are reproved are made manifest by the light: for whatsoever doth make manifest is light.
Ephesians 5:11–13

I love the flashlight on my smartphone. While it may be the most low-tech element of this high-tech device, I find myself using it all the time. Whether it is to find the lock for a key at night, illuminating a room when the lights have been turned off, or trying to see behind the refrigerator for a lost utensil, it comes in handy almost daily. The reason for this is that it helps reveal, or make manifest, something I am desiring to see. It seems that we are frequently in a position in our lives where we need to make things manifest!

I believe the same is true about sin in our lives. What struck me when I was recently reading the verses above in Ephesians was the word “whatsoever”. In context, Paul is exhorting the Ephesians in chapter 5 to avoid deception, walking in the light rather than in darkness. In verses 11-13, it is evident that sinful works are frequently done in secret but that the light can reveal them for what they are. The “whatsoever” indicates that whatever brings these secret sinful works to our attention is light. Wow! Could it be that there are almost a limitless number of circumstances and things that could bring light to the sin in our lives?

What are some examples of these sin-revealing flashlights?

The Word of God

You might naturally go first to the Word of God. I’m right with you there! God’s Word is clear about its own illuminating quality:

The entrance of thy words giveth light; It giveth understanding unto the simple. Psalm 119:130
For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. Hebrews 4:12–13

The Word of God is a flashlight directly into our hearts. It can reveal our intentions and motives and can quickly identify sin. Growth in our understanding of the Word can better equip us to identify sin in our lives.

Fellow Brothers and Sisters in Christ

Where no counsel is, the people fall: But in the multitude of counsellers there is safety. Proverbs 11:14

We can be grateful that the Lord has put other Christians in our lives that can help us identify error in our path. They can help us see our blind spots. This may be done verbally, or even simply by us observing their lives.

Prayer

But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup. 1 Corinthians 11:28
Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come. John 16:13

If we get on our knees before God and ask Him to examine our hearts by His Holy Spirit, the light can shine in and help us to see where we have been sinful.

God’s Chastening

As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Revelation 3:19

As a loving Father, God corrects His children when they disobey Him. We might not recognize sin until it is time for a spanking from our Heavenly Father! Similarly, the natural, negative consequences of sin tend to show us that a path we have chosen is the wrong one.

Our Children

And Nadab the son of Jeroboam began to reign over Israel in the second year of Asa king of Judah, and reigned over Israel two years. And he did evil in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the way of his father, and in his sin wherewith he made Israel to sin. 1 Kings 15:25–26

Have you ever seen your child behave in a way that was ugly to you, only to realize that they learned it from watching you? While this can be a painful way to have the light shine on our sin, it does give us the opportunity to repent and make a course correction. Depending on the circumstance this may involve a confession to the family. Let your children see you recognize a sin in your life and have victory over it. How this would bring glory to God!

God’s flashlights for pointing out sin in our lives do not end with this short list. Regardless of what form they take we need to be looking for them in our lives. Even more important is the need to respond when the flashlight reveals an unconfessed sin. That is something that is expected of a follower of Christ. What is the light revealing in your life?