Psalm 32:1–2 (NIV84)

1 Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.

2 Blessed is the man whose sin the Lord does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.

Have you ever tried to cover up something wrong that you have done? As a person with a sinful nature, the answer is yes. When we follow the desires of our sinful nature, we take steps to cover up our sinful actions. Our sinful nature may even convince us that such a cover-up might work and no one will discover our sinfulness. We may even succeed in fooling family members, friends, co-workers, and so on, but ultimately we are just fooling ourselves. No matter how hard people try, none can ever succeed in covering up their sins. God knows each and every one. It doesn’t matter how elaborate the cover-up or how tiny the sin may seem. God knows what you have done. You can’t cover up your sins.

Sinful human beings cannot fool the almighty, all-knowing God. We sin, and there is nothing that we can do to remove those sins from our lives. We cannot cover them up. Hiding sin doesn’t bring relief. It brings guilt and shame. The devil would love nothing more than to use that guilt and shame to suffocate faith. The psalm writer, King David, also felt the guilt and shame of his sins as he tried to cover them up. It nearly suffocated his faith. Though he tried, David could not cover up his sins.

Only God can cover up your sins. No, God does not help you carry out some elaborate scheme to fool the world into thinking you are a good person. God knows your sins, but he loves you anyway. God covers up your sins in a way that only he could accomplish. God’s son, Jesus, gives to you the robe of righteousness that he won for you on the cross. Jesus wraps you in that robe of righteousness so that when God looks at you he does not see your sin, guilt, and shame. These have been covered by the blood of His son, Jesus. Your sins have been removed. Your sins have been covered.

Next time you feel the temptation to try to cover up a sinful act, remember that Jesus loved you so much that he sacrificed himself to cover up your sins. Then, filled with the Holy Spirit, turn away from the temptations of the devil, the world, and your sinful nature. Repent of your sins and leave them behind. Jesus has blessed you with the forgiveness of sins and taken away your guilt and shame.

PRAYER: Passover Lamb, the blood that you shed on the cross has covered my sins. Thank you for this sacrificial gift. Give me the strength to turn away from temptation and trust in you for forgiveness when I fall. In your name I pray, Amen.