Being Wrong. Being Made Right.

Have you ever found yourself face-to-face with someone who was wrong? You knew it. They knew it. But they just wouldn’t admit it? We’ve all been there, right?

When someone realizes they’ve said or done something wrong—but doesn’t want to admit it—they typically go into damage control. They start by denying it. Or deflecting their responsibility or the damage that was done. If that doesn’t work, they may promise to make up for it even if they still won’t own up to it. It’s amazing how common this is. Complete strangers, co-workers, and neighbors. Friends and family. They’ve all fallen into these familiar patterns.

But they’re not the only ones. When we’re on the other side of those conversations, we do the very same things, don’t we? We begin by denying that we really did what they think we did. Then we try to explain away our actions. We point out that anyone else would have said what we said or done what we did. We ask aggressive rhetorical questions like “What choice did I have? or What else could I have done?” Then, when none of that satisfies, we promise to make up for it somehow. We haven’t just seen these patterns in others. We’ve lived them.

Why do we do this? Being wrong makes us uncomfortable. It can be embarrassing. But these tactics aren’t much less embarrassing. What they all have in common is that they are trying to make a wrong look right. Denial pretends that I didn’t do anything wrong. Deflection pretends that what might seem wrong to another was actually kind of right because of the circumstances. Attempts at making up for it pretend that I can make whatever wrong I’ve said or done right again. Whenever we try to make wrong look right, bad appear to be good, we are deceiving ourselves. We are driving a wedge between us and others. We are wrecking ourselves emotionally, relationally, and spiritually.

David described his experience of knowing he was in the wrong in Psalm 38. He says: (Ps 38:4) My guilt has overwhelmed me, like a burden too heavy to bear. Being in the wrong and denying it had a real impact on David. Physically and emotionally he was a wreck. His bones were aching. His heart was pounding. His back was killing him. His strength was failing. He was mourning all day long. He was falling apart relationally, too. His friends turned their backs on him. Neighbors stayed far away. Enemies were licking their chops.

So what did he do? He cried out to God. He confessed to God what he had done. (Ps. 38:21-22) Lord, do not forsake me. Come quickly to help me, my Lord and my Savior. David recognized God working through his guilt. As he came to realize that he had done wrong, he also was brought to see that God was right there willing and eager to save him.

God’s Word tells us that whenever we act as if we are (1 Jn. 1:8) without sin, we deceive ourselves. We deny the truth. But God also promises that (1 Jn. 1:9) he is faithful and just each time we confess our sins. He will forgive our sins and purify us from all our unrighteousness.

Even when we have done our best to try to fool ourselves and everyone else, God is still faithful. He is still committed to the truth and to us. Even when we have tried to justify things we know cannot be justified, God remains just. He is good, not just good considering the circumstances and conditions. God is always faithful and just. Even when it’s painful and shameful.

God’s faithfulness and his just-ness collided on the cross. In sending his Son, our Lord Jesus, to be our Savior, God was being faithful to all his promises to do something about our sin, guilt, and shame. By taking our place—dying the death our sins deserved—God was being just. He doesn’t deny sin’s reality or results. He doesn’t deflect the issue or leave us to deal with it on our own. He does what we cannot. He redeems us. He paid the price for our wrongs. He turns toward us with mercy and grace. He accepts us in Christ as his own beloved children.

Now, when we are wrong, we don’t need to deny it. Christ died for it. When we are wrong, we don’t have to try to deflect—make excuses about why we had no better option. Jesus has made atonement for all our sins. And we don’t have to try to make up for it. Jesus has redeemed us with his holy precious blood. Whenever we realize that we are wrong, we know what needs to happen. We turn to God. He will comfort us, even in uncomfortable situations. Amen.