Chapter 12 - Honest Self-Confrontation: Reaching into Bucket Four

In Genesis chapter 3, we read of Adam and Eve hiding in the Garden after having sinned by disobeying God's word. When God confronted Adam about his sin, he pointed the finger at Eve. When Eve is confronted, she pointed the finger at the serpent. Thus began man's propensity to compound sin upon sin.

Sin is not rational. The wisest course of action after recognizing our sin would be to immediately confess the sin to God and ask forgiveness. But the very nature of sin is such that our inclination is to cover it up or deflect the guilt from ourselves to another, as Adam and Eve did.

But for the grace of God, we would be left in this cycle of piling up sins. We would deservedly perish and bear the wrath of God for our rebellion. However, the good news is that in spite of our rebellion and enmity towards God, Christ was made to be sin so that through our union with him we might be forgiven and even considered righteous.

Reaching into bucket four requires honest self-confrontation. And this is possible because we are new creations in Christ (2 Cor 5:17). We are enabled by word and Spirit to see our sin for what it is, and to address it in a manner that is God-honoring. Even when we sin and respond to that sin with further transgression, we are able to look back and see the oftentimes devastating effects that our actions had on ourselves and others, and seek forgiveness and reconciliation. We can learn and grow from our past failures, and we can know that there is hope, [f]or we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

(Hebrews 4:15-16 ESV)