You’ve admitted it before.
You’ve said,
“Yeah… I know that’s wrong.”
You’ve even felt bad about it.
But somehow…
nothing really changed.
Same pattern.
Same cycle.
So what’s missing?
Why doesn’t admitting it actually fix anything?
This verse answers that.
But it also challenges you more than you might expect.
Let’s see what the Scripture actually says.
READ THE VERSE (KJV)
“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy.”
Proverbs 28:13 (KJV)
WHAT DOES “CONFESS AND FORSAKE” MEAN?
Confess means to be honest.
Clear.
No hiding.
But forsake?
That means to leave it.
Walk away from it.
Not just feel bad about it.
Think about someone quitting something harmful.
They don’t just admit it’s a problem.
They remove it.
They change direction.
That’s forsaking.
The Bible says:
“Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts…”
Isaiah 55:7 (KJV)
So this isn’t just about words.
It’s about movement.
Here’s the question.
Are you only admitting it…
or are you actually leaving it?
WHAT IS REALLY BEING SAID HERE?
This verse exposes something real.
You can be honest…
and still stay stuck.
You can admit a problem…
and keep feeding it.
Why?
Because admitting feels like progress.
But it’s not the same as change.
And sometimes you stop there.
You acknowledge it.
Then go right back to it.
That’s covering in a different way.
Not hiding from others…
but avoiding real change.
The Bible says:
“Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only…”
James 1:22 (KJV)
So hearing the truth isn’t enough.
Agreeing with it isn’t enough.
There has to be a shift in direction.
CONTEXT CHANGES EVERYTHING
Proverbs is giving practical wisdom.
This isn’t theory.
It’s cause and effect.
Covering sin leads somewhere.
“Shall not prosper.”
Not just spiritually.
It affects your thinking.
Your decisions.
Your direction.
But the second part shows the contrast.
Confess and forsake leads to mercy.
So this verse isn’t just telling you what to do.
It’s showing you where each path leads.
THE CONNECTION MOST PEOPLE MISS
Look at this phrase:
“Shall have mercy.”
That connects directly to this:
“Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy…”
Hebrews 4:16 (KJV)
Mercy isn’t something you earn.
But there is a posture that receives it.
Honesty.
And turning.
Not perfection.
But direction.
That’s where mercy meets you.
WHERE THIS SHOWS UP IN REAL LIFE (BIBLE STORIES)
Look at Achan for a second.
He sinned and hid it.
Covered it.
And it affected everything around him.
“Israel hath sinned…”
Joshua 7:11 (KJV)
Hidden sin didn’t stay hidden.
Now look at Zacchaeus.
When he encountered Jesus…
he didn’t just admit what he’d done.
“Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor…”
Luke 19:8 (KJV)
He changed direction.
Practical.
Visible.
And Jesus responded.
“This day is salvation come to this house.”
Luke 19:9 (KJV)
So let me ask you.
Is your honesty leading to change…
or just repeating the same cycle?
LET’S BE HONEST
Forsaking is the hard part.
Because it costs something.
Comfort.
Habits.
Control.
And part of you might think,
“I’ll deal with it later.”
But later keeps you stuck.
And over time, it gets easier to live with it.
The Bible says:
“Today if ye will hear his voice, harden not your heart…”
Hebrews 3:15 (KJV)
Because delay doesn’t fix things.
It hardens them.
But God isn’t shutting you out.
He’s inviting you to deal with it fully.
WHAT ACTUALLY CHANGES WHEN YOU LIVE THIS
This verse points to a clear shift.
From covering…
to clearing.
Before this…
you manage appearances.
Hide things.
Justify things.
Carry the weight quietly.
After this…
you bring it into the open.
And you step away from it.
Even if it’s slow.
Even if it takes time.
The shift is this:
from hiding → honesty with action
from repeating → redirecting
from stuck patterns → intentional change
And the result?
Mercy.
Not pressure.
Not punishment.
Mercy.
The Bible says:
“The Lord is merciful and gracious…”
Psalm 103:8 (KJV)
That’s what meets you on the other side of honesty and turning.
Admitting is a start.
But it’s not the finish.
This verse calls you further.
Not just to say it…
but to leave it.
Step by step.
Choice by choice.
So here’s the real question.
What are you still holding onto…
that you already know you need to walk away from?
Sit with that.
Call to Action: The Question That Demands an AnswerIn Acts 2:37 Peter and the Apostles were asked the question – What Shall We do? And in Acts 2:38 Peter answered, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call. Do you understand this? After hearing the gospel and believing, they asked what should would do. The answer hasn’t changed friend, Peter clearly gave the answer. The question for you today is, Have you receieved the Holy Spirit Since you believed? If you’re ready to take that step, or you want to learn more about what it means to be born again of water and Spirit, visit: Come, and let the Spirit make you new. |
