I'm Ashamed. Now What? Three Questions.

You can listen to the audio message here

Have you ever been perplexed by a decision you or someone you know has made? What was I thinking! What were they thinking!? We all have!

Good or bad decisions have consequences. We control the choices but not the consequence.

In fact, when we find ourselves facing problems because of poor choices, we may not be able to change the past, or present circumstances, but we can change our attitude and approach to the problem in a way that positively affects the future.

The harmful ways people choose to handle problems, the ruin wrought in relationships, the things they turn to, run from, or attempt to hide in the midst of fears, failures, and faults is legend – and it goes all the way back to the beginning: (From Gen 2:15-17, Gen. 3:1-8).

One little bite changed everything! Humanity happens to us all. Blame Adam!

But how we respond to the messes we make is consequential. Friend don’t run and hide. God will meet you in the crises, calamities and conundrums of our own making.

Let's look at three questions God asks when were in a conundrum and hiding from Him:

1. Where Art Thou? (The Question of Location – Gen. 3:9-10)

• When we find ourselves in a mess and just want to run or hide, we may be experiencing who we really are and don’t like where we’re at and what’s being revealed (James 1:18-25, 3:2).

• So, we hide behind shame, bitterness, anger, blame-shifting, irresponsibility. self-pity, pride, work substances, expectations, outward appearance, religion, social media, lies, goodness, or badness... 

• Friend, where are you today? Maybe it’s time to come out from hiding and talk to God.

2 .Who Told Thee? (The Question of Authority – Gen. 3:11-12)

• All of us have voices that speak into our lives: Media, music, mentors, preachers, parents, friends, enemies, self. Who is your authority? It should be God’s word (Lk. 6:46, Jn 17:17)

• When we listen to voices that contradict God’s word, we’ll find ourselves making bad choices, excuses, blame-shifting, defensive, hiding – from God! 

• Who you listen to makes a difference (Psa. 1:1-6, Pro. 1:23). Friend, who has your ear but not your best interest at heart?

3. What Is This that Thou Hast Done? (The Question of Responsibility – Gen. 3:13)

• Some of the most frightening words a parent or pastor ever hears are “I don’t know what happened”, “what was I thinking”, “because I thought”, “I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

• Sin and self-centeredness cause us to hide from God ashamed, afraid, confused. Our conscience reveals our personal responsibility and need for repentance from sin, self-life, and for a sanctified life in Christ (Psa. 51:9-17, Pro. 28:13, 1 John 1:6-2:2).

When you find yourself hiding from God because of life’s problems of your own making or by others, from what you’ve been thinking, said, or done, you can be sure God recovers what sin has ruined (Gen. 3:21, 1 Pet. 3:18).

But you have a responsibility to be honest, repent and return to God. Friend, come out from hiding, let us know where you are right now and allow God to speak into your life.

Take responsibility for the next steps to recovery. Are you ready my friend? Where art thou? Why not come out now? Jesus will meet you right where you are (Matt. 11:28-30).