Years ago an Austrian kid named Arnold Schwarzenegger came to the United States to fulfill his dream of being a body builder (which he clearly went on to do).  Because of his size, they called him the “Austrian Oak.”  While Arnold had a great physique, he had one glaring weakness – his calves.  So, he did what most people do when you have a weakness…you hide it.  You do everything you can to pretend it doesn’t exist, to conceal it from view, to compensate in other areas.  Most of Arnold’s earliest photos are of his upper body.  If he were trying to show off his lower body, he would do so standing in water to hide his calves.

One day, Arnold figured the only way to improve his weakness is to come out with it.  To confess it (sort of speak).  To confront it for what it was and take action to improve.  Arnold’s solution…he cut his workout pants at the knees to expose his calves.  No more hiding.  In order for his calves to improve he needed to see them in the mirror, let others see that they were disproportionate to the rest of his body, and then do something about it.  And man did he! (in the photos you can see the great similarities the Austrian Oak has with me…I knew most of you were thinking it anyhow).

I think this is a good analogy for confession.  We all have areas of weakness and sin.  Let me repeat…WE ALL have areas of weakness and sin.  Our first reponse (as has been the case throughout human history) is to hide our weakness, to conceal it, to pretend it doesn’t exist, etc.  But as long as we take this route, there is no way for our weaknesses to see the light of God’s transformative grace.  It is only in the act of confessing (which means that we agree with God’s assessment of our condition) that we bring it to the open.  In the moment of vulnerability, God’s grace flows, forgiveness happens, and often, a power that kept us in bondage to the concealment, is broken.  Maybe it is time to cut off at the knees those things in our life that are our greatest weaknesses.

Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity.  I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the LORD” – and you forgave the guilt of my sin.  Psalm 32:5

 Tune in later for either:

• A list of my weaknesses (By the way, I’m not asking for comments to help me develop my list!). 
• Why I believe concentrating on our weaknesses is a bad idea! (coming clean and concentrating are two different things).