The Slavery of Secrets
Now, both the man and his wife were naked, but they felt no shame. Genesis 2:25
Few things in life are as destructive and enslaving as carrying a secret. In the beginning, the man and the woman could be together completely naked, which means they had nothing to hide from each other.
People who keep secrets live in fear of revelation. They carry a burden that drains their energy and leaves them weary. A secret may not necessarily be a sin we commit, but it could be a weakness, a failure, a complex, a fear, or even something that was done to us. Whatever it may be, secrets enslave us.
Why do we keep secrets?
a. Fear of rejection
We are afraid that if people knew what I did, they would never accept me again, my reputation would be destroyed, and my friendships lost.
b. Fear of loss
We fear losing our job, our spouse, our position in the church, and many other things.
The consequences of secrets
- Secrets produce isolation
The first consequence of a secret is isolation. This happens for two reasons: first, because we feel indebted to people or unworthy of being in that group, and secondly, because we fear being discovered and run away from situations or people that threaten us.
Before I got married, I had a problem that caused my chest and legs to become discolored. I found myself repulsive and tried in every way to hide it from people, especially my girlfriend, who is now my wife. I never took group showers during retreats, and I never went swimming. It was my secret.
Interestingly, I kept the secret to avoid rejection and loneliness, but because of the secret, I ended up isolating myself. Keeping my secret was more important to me than having fun or participating in social activities. I never relaxed enough to behave with ease and naturalness. This is how secrets enslave us; they take away our naturalness, our communion, and even our joy of living.
b. Secrets take away courage in facing life
Secrets make us retreat instead of moving forward. We see the world as a big threat instead of a place to explore and enjoy. We avoid different situations and new experiences.
c. Secrets make us constantly seek redemption
When we feel that our secret is, in some way, a kind of betrayal, we naturally seek to make amends or compensate for it. Have you seen people enduring things that seem absurd? Many do this as a way of making amends for something they feel indebted to, even if it’s a secret.
d. Secrets leave us in debt to others
Once, a sister became pregnant by a married man, and out of fear of the consequences, she quickly started dating another guy and lied to him that the child was his. They eventually got married, and the man turned out to be a very bad husband, but she endured all the terrible things he did to her because she had a secret, and she felt it was her punishment.
The same thing happened with Joseph’s brothers (Genesis 42:21-22). They kept the secret for many years, but the secret haunted and enslaved them.
The freedom of living in the light
We can only have fellowship if we walk in the light. When we walk in the light, we are restored to the position of Adam and Eve before sin, when they could be naked and feel no shame.
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7
When we do not walk in the light, we inevitably fall into darkness and face consequences. When we lack light, we:
Feel fear because fear accompanies darkness.
Stumble because we cannot see where we are going.
Experience confusion and lack of direction.
All of this is because at some point, we stopped walking in the light and covered ourselves with some kind of secret.
