隱藏和忽視毒素的來源會引發嚴重的後果。根據《華爾街日報》報導，美國的電信公司在全國各地留下超過兩千條廢棄的鉛皮電纜。這些有毒的鉛存在於地下水和土壤裡，以及高架的電線桿上。隨著鉛皮變質脆化，最終滲入民眾生活、工作和遊樂的地方。許多電信公司如今嚴正看待鉛滲入環境的潛在風險，其中有好些公司早在多年前就已得知接觸有毒物質會造成的危害。

同樣地，不承認和不處理罪的毒素，也會對我們的生命帶來嚴重的後果。當人犯罪時，自然會試圖對上帝和別人有所掩飾或隱瞞。然而，持續做違背上帝和祂「律法」（箴言28章9節）的事，企圖忽視、隱藏或辯解自己所犯的罪，乃是不智之舉。正如箴言的作者說：「遮掩自己罪過的，必不亨通；承認離棄罪過的，必蒙憐恤。」（13節）

當我們向上帝承認自己的罪時，聖經說，上帝會以祂豐富的恩典洗淨我們一切的不義。約翰一書1章9節：「我們若認自己的罪，上帝是信實的，是公義的，必要赦免我們的罪，洗淨我們一切的不義。」因此，讓我們懇求上帝幫助我們坦承自己的罪，以免罪的毒素滲入我們的內心和別人的生活，造成嚴重的後果。

Hidden and ignored sources of toxins can have severe consequences. According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, telecom companies have left behind more than two thousand lead-covered cables across the United States. The toxic lead runs underwater, “in the soil, and on poles overhead.” As the lead deteriorates, it ends up in places where people “live, work, and play.” Many telecom companies, some of which have known for years about the dangers of toxic exposure, are taking the potential risk of lead leaching into the environment very seriously.

The toxin of unconfessed and unaddressed sin can also pose serious consequences in our lives. When a person sins, there’s a natural tendency to try to cover up or conceal it from God and others. But it’s foolish to indulge in things that go against Him and His “instruction” (Proverbs 28:9)—attempting to ignore, hide, or excuse them. As the writer reveals, “Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy” (v. 13).

When we confess our sins to God, Scripture reveals that He will purify us from them in His abundant grace: “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive . . . and purify us” (1 John 1:9). So let’s ask God to help us honestly confess our sins before the toxins leach into our hearts and into the lives of others.