Insecurity Examination - Martin Wiles

Examine yourselves to see if your faith is really genuine. 2 Corinthians 13:5 NLT

Self-examinations can be lifesaving.

Women who’ve had breast cancer or are at high risk due to biological reasons are encouraged to self-examine. Since doctor visits are separated by months—sometimes years--examinations are vitally important and could mean the difference between life and death.

People who’ve had skin cancer are encouraged to perform self-examinations. My cancer was basil cell carcinoma and was barely a noticeable place on the back of my ear. Other than it bleeding when I dried off after a shower, I would never have known it existed. Since then, I’ve had a few different places frozen or cut off. So, I regularly self-examine. My skin doctor appointments come months apart, and a lot can happen in that time.

Another critical self-examination falls in the area of insecurity. Insecurities occur for various reasons. Perhaps the messages a child heard while they were young were primarily negative. “You can’t do that,” or “You’ll never amount to anything.” Similar messages are often perpetrated by those who heard those same messages when they were growing up. Messages like this can form an adult who has low self-esteem, is overtly shy, and may be afraid to set goals or make decisions. Spouses who live with emotionally or physically abusive partners can also face insecurities.

But Paul deals with one area we never have to feel insecure about. He suggests self-examination regarding salvation—faith in Christ. We came into this world a sinner. Left to ourselves, we will carry out the effects of that sinful nature in unhealthy attitudes, actions, and words. Without any action on our part to correct it, we will go to our graves the same way and spend eternity apart from a loving God. But we don’t have to.

Jesus paid for our sins, but we must accept his actions. His sacrifice removes our sins and gives us His righteousness when applied to our lives. This act should also remove our insecurities. After a self-examination, we conclude that, indeed, we’re in the faith and secure in his love. Forgiveness, abundance, joy, power, confidence—and most of all, heaven—are all ours.

Plan to do a regular self-examination.

Father, when I examine myself, may I find my security in your unconditional forgiveness. 

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Growing a Sin Scar - Martin Wiles

These people are hypocrites and liars, and their consciences are dead. 1 Timothy 4:2 NLT

I wondered whether or not the doctor had gotten it all. The spot felt a little strange.

Having had skin cancer before, I worried about the red spot on my forearm that had been there for some time. I had asked the skin doctor about it. She dismissed my concern.

Then the spot began to grow and itch. On my next visit, I showed it to the doctor again. This time she decided to remove the growth. She still didn’t seem concerned, but when she finished cutting it off, I had a pencil eraser sized hole in my arm.

On my return visit for a checkup, I expressed my concern about how the spot looked and felt … or didn’t feel. She rubbed it with her finger, and said not to worry. I just had scar tissue.

Paul warned Timothy, his son in the faith, to look out for false teachers. They would come in the last times and attempt to lead believers and nonbelievers astray with their false teachings. And it wouldn’t bother them. Their consciences were seared. Didn’t feel.

I once asked my middle schoolers to define conscience. They defined it as the little voice in your head telling you what’s right and what’s wrong. I can’t think of a better answer.

But when I don’t listen to it, or God, I damage my conscience. When I sin, God immediately convicts me. Confessing it as soon as He brings it to my attention is the proper course of action. When I don’t, my conscience grows a sin scar. Sinning will still bother me … but not as much. If I continue down this path, the scar tissue gets harder. Before long, I’ll be able to sin without much feeling at all. I will have seared my conscience.

Growing a sin scar doesn’t mean I’ve lost my salvation. As a believer, God keeps me securely in His care, but it does have consequences. God will send His discipline. I’ll not enjoy the life He has planned for me, and I’ll miss out on His blessings. I won’t grow spiritually because persistent sin and spiritual growth are mutually exclusive. The worst thing about a sin scar is that we don’t hear from God. He speaks, but we can’t hear. The scar dulls our hearing. And when we don’t hear, we miss God’s best.

When you sin, confess it immediately so you don’t develop a sin callous.

Prayer: Father, take away those sin callouses so we can be sensitive to Your Spirit’s work through our consciences.

Tweetable: Have you grown a sin scar? 

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