[ampaterry]

When I was a young teenager, I experimented with smoking. There was no law against children smoking in those days, but my dad and mom had their own law, so I did it only in secret. I would go down to a little store that my parents did not shop at, pull a piece of paper from my pocket and pretend to read what Dad had sent me for; a particular kind of cigar, usually. I would then go out and ride away from the store on my bicycle before lighting it, then peddle around in different neighborhoods puffing away on it. On one such day, I recognized an approaching car as one belonging to my sister and her husband, which sent me into a panic. Fastened to the handlebars of my bike, I had a WWII vintage knapsack, made of OD Canvas, which I used to carry things on my bike. I opened the flap, dropped the cigar in, and rode on trying to act innocent. The car stopped when they got even with me, and my sister and her husband talked briefly to me. I don't remember anything they talked about, but I sure do remember the coil of smoke that rose from my knapsack. I am sure they noticed, but they never said a word about it. My knapsack suffered a hole burned in the bottom from the incident, and my desire for cigars was considerably lessened in the future.
A lit cigar cannot be concealed in a canvas bag. It will betray itself with smoke, and eventually flame. Neither can pet sins be kept hidden beneath the most glorious sounding profession of faith; they will sooner or later discover themselves, and burn sad holes in a person's reputation. Sin needs quenching in the Savior's blood, not being hidden under the knapsack of religion.
The Word of God tells us:
Numbers 32:23 (KJV);
"But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."
Proverbs 28:13 (KJV);
"He that covereth his sins shall not prosper: but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy."

I will talk to you again tomorrow - and may God bless and protect each one here.