When Truth costs everything
I’m currently reading 2 Corinthians 1, where Paul speaks about God's mercy and His role as the source of all comfort. Paul reminds us that God comforts us in all our troubles so that we can comfort others with the same comfort we’ve received.
The Bible often mentions suffering for the sake of Christ. Yet, what does that look like when someone confesses a sin, knowing the consequences may involve imprisonment? Is that what it means to walk the narrow path? Scripture teaches that the more we suffer for Christ, the more God will shower us with His comfort (2 Corinthians 1:5). Confession is more than admitting wrongdoing; it’s a surrender to God's way, even when it costs us. Does that kind of repentance align with the narrow path Jesus described, one that few find (Matthew 7:14)? I firmly believe it does. Sin comes from choosing our way over God's. Therefore, true repentance is a sincere and humble return to Jesus, embracing the narrow and difficult path He has laid out for us. Jesus said, “Make every effort to enter through the narrow door, because many, I tell you, will try to enter and will not be able to” (Luke 13:24). Confession doesn’t need to be dramatic. In my experience, it’s quiet, costly, and unseen by most. When it comes from obedience of the heart, it reflects the surrender Jesus calls us to. Obedience requires trusting in God to face the consequences that may come.
Walking the narrow path means responding to the Holy Spirit's convictions, regardless of the consequences that may follow. When I admitted my wrongdoing, I chose honesty over my reputation. My struggles came because I took the difficult path, rather than hiding and living in the dark. The consequences of my time in prison and being a felon as I go about my life in society are a result of my actions and obedience to God.
When we confess our sins with the right heart attitude, turning away and changing our lives, I believe we are laying down our lives as a living sacrifice to be holy and acceptable to God (Romans 12:1). Choosing to make things right is never easy. I remember the moment I walked into the police station. I said a brief prayer: “God, guide me. I trust You with my whole heart, even though this will be painful.” I stepped out in faith, and without faith, it is impossible to please God (Hebrews 11:6).
Christians mistakenly believe that faith mainly serves to bring financial prosperity. Faith is the substance of things not seen; trusting God even when life makes little sense. It’s holding onto His promises when healing doesn’t come, when the provision runs dry, or when the path is unclear. It’s the quiet confidence that He's still good, even when prayers seem unanswered. We demonstrate our faith in God through our endurance despite challenges, not through our rewards. Faith depends on God's goodness, even in the face of pain, loss, or disclosure.
I trusted God, even though I knew the road ahead would be painful. Choosing to confess and turn from sin was my step to walk the narrow path (Matthew 7:13-14), which leads to life. I once believed that following the narrow path meant attending church, going to weekly meetings, singing and serving on Sundays as a way of saying yes to God. Through the Holy Spirit’s conviction, I knew I could no longer live as I had been. I could feel everything about to fall apart before it could be rebuilt. It was the hardest decision I have ever had to make.
Our choices shape the direction of our lives. When we follow God's will, it leads to righteousness. When we ignore Him, our decision opens a pathway of destruction. I hated what I had become, so I made a change. For any Christian to walk the narrow path, you need to decide that you can’t continue living as you have. You must reach a point in life when you realise a change needs to take place and get right with God. Like I did, you may come to a moment where everything must break before it can be rebuilt. Choosing the narrow path to righteousness is not easy because it goes against the grain of what others are doing. Other people will not be held responsible for your decisions; it is only between you and God. It is your calling to reflect Jesus (Luke 14:33), because Scripture is clear, and Christians who do not forsake all cannot be Jesus’ disciples. When we choose the narrow path, the truth begins to surface, and it often impacts those around us.
Truth reveals what we'd rather keep hidden, our sins and sometimes the sins of others. This is why many Christians stay silent. They fear the consequences that might happen and the ripple effects that exposure could cause, making others uncomfortable. When you step into the light, confess your sins, take responsibility for your decisions, and surrender to God, you open your heart to God's healing and restoration power. David, after being exposed in his sin, cried out, “Have mercy on me, O God… wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow” (Psalm 51:1, 7). His brokenness became the doorway to restoration, just as ours can.
After informing the police, they placed me in a holding cell. As I sat on the cold concrete bench, I felt lost, thinking my life was over, and there was nothing else left for me. In that moment, I held onto the truth written in Joel 2:25, “So I will restore to you the years that the swarming locusts have eaten.” God will restore what was lost. If you're living in sin and struggling to come forward, this isn't the end, and God isn’t finished with you yet. I'm living proof. When you take a step to start a new life, you no longer feel like you are walking in fog; instead, you are walking in an outpouring where new life begins with His comfort, healing, and love.
When you decide to walk away from sin and accept healing, you choose a life that mirrors the character of Jesus. You will still bear scars, but they won't weigh you down. The wounds Jesus bore have become the bandages for your scars, and they are dear to Jesus because you didn’t take the easy way and ignore your sin. Scripture states no one is righteous, not even one (Romans 3:10). And if we claim we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and call God a liar (1 John 1:8-10). If you are standing at the edge of truth, wondering if the cost is too high, I want to tell you - it's worth it. Freedom begins where hiding ends.
