Written by Deanna Brooks, volunteer with Iron Rose Sister Ministries in Arkansas
When I was growing up, my daddy sometimes told me, “It’s hard to hear God’s voice when you’ve already decided what you want Him to say.”
The Hebrew writer tells us, “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us” (Heb 12:1 ESV).
Picture a runner strapping on ankle weights and a heavy backpack just before an important race. Do you think he will have a good race? This is what the author of Hebrews is talking about when he tells us to lay aside that which can slow us down.
Sin is a weight that slows down or interrupts our walk with Jesus.
We all know how difficult it is to talk to someone through a closed door. When we talk to or listen to our Heavenly Father, we need the door open wide with nothing to hinder communication.
Sin is a barrier…like a closed door…between us and God.
- Sin often comes with pride…and pride prevents us from listening because we want to be in control. We may have decided what we want God to say.
- Sin deceives us into thinking God has moved away from us and no longer cares.
- Indifference, fear, or shame about our sin will close our ears to His voice. The evil one wants us to concentrate on our sin. However, God has told us to give our sin to Him, and He will wash it away.
Contrast the response of Adam and Eve with David when each were confronted about sin. Adam and Eve were afraid and hid. David responded, “I have sinned against the Lord” (2Sa 12:13 NIV).
Have you experienced the pain of avoiding a friend because of “something” that happened?
Now, let’s apply that to our relationship with God. Whether it is an obvious sin that we are aware of, or we’ve simply quit putting God first in our lives and we know things aren’t right, we feel the barrier, and we are no longer hearing Him.
The prophet Habakkuk wrote: “Your eyes are too pure to look on evil; you cannot tolerate wrongdoing” (Hab 1:13). Our Heavenly Father wants us to avoid sin.
The most important thing we need to remember is God will never leave us. We find this promise throughout Scripture. We find it first in Deuteronomy 31:8: “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” Our God pursues us to protect us from sin.
Sin is always the barrier that separates us from feeling connected to God.
Isaiah wrote: “Your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God” (Isa 59:2 ESV).
God knew this and understood it. This is why He tells us over and over in Scripture to bring our sins before Him so we can be cleansed.
Think on the following Scriptures…about how they give us hope and assurance:
“If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness” (1Jn 1:9 NIV).
“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death” (Rom 8:1,2).
“The blood of Jesus, his Son purifies us from all sin” (1Jn 1:7).
“But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the Righteous One” (1Jn 2:1). Jesus, our Redeemer, is standing beside us as we approach the Father.
With those promises that show the Father’s loving-kindness towards His people, we need to ask ourselves what we are involved in that may hinder us from hearing the words of our Heavenly Father.