Cover It Up

I made a mistake that held moral implications the other day. (That's a nice way to say I sinned.)

Something was said to someone about someone else that was none of my business to share. (That's a nice way to say I gossiped.) How do I know it was gossip? Because I wouldn't want what was said shared about me, if I were in that situation, whether it was true or not.

My failure didn't hit me until a few hours later.

My conscience started nagging me. Stupid conscience always thinking it knows best.

So I started spinning my conversation every way that I could to calm my inner turmoil. I was planning a cover-up complete with phone calls, text messages, and an alibi. My gossip was turning into a complete scandal that would have made a politician proud.

Then it hit me what I was doing. The same thing that Adam and Eve did when they first sinned. The same thing that I do every single time I sin. My basic instinct is to try to hide my failure to make me look and feel better. But it never does!

Whenever you sin, don't try to conceal it. Don't try to take matters into your own hands. As soon as you sense yourself doing this, stop and repent. Bring to light your failure and let grace take care of the rest.

Question:
What's your basic instinct when you sin?