I was reading a newspaper the other day and noticed something interesting. A fairly well-known ministry has just changed how it refers to itself in advertising. Its full name is no longer apparent. Instead, the logo is enlarged and an anagram prominent. The name is there only in very small print. Hmmm. I wondered why. Is there something attached to the name that the organization no longer wants identified with them? Are they trying to move away from a previous public perception of their ministry? Are they just trying to publicize a new image, or are they trying to hide something?

I notice a number of well-known fast-food restaurants are doing the same thing. One in particular caught my attention because it is quite obvious they are trying desperately to improve their image. There's a word in their name that doesn't sit well with health- conscious consumers these days. Their food doesn't sit very well in the stomach either and I suspect that's why they've switched to the anagram. It is no doubt a lot less expensive to change their name than to change their product. I suppose they hope that eventually the public will forget what the initials stand for. They're hoping to cover their sins instead of getting rid of them.

I was reading a newspaper the other day and noticed something interesting. A fairly well-known ministry has just changed how it refers to itself in advertising. Its full name is no longer apparent. Instead, the logo is enlarged and an anagram prominent. The name is there only in very small print. Hmmm. I wondered why. Is there something attached to the name that the organization no longer wants identified with them? Are they trying to move away from a previous public perception of their ministry? Are they just trying to publicize a new image, or are they trying to hide something?

I notice a number of well-known fast-food restaurants are doing the same thing. One in particular caught my attention because it is quite obvious they are trying desperately to improve their image. There's a word in their name that doesn't sit well with health- conscious consumers these days. Their food doesn't sit very well in the stomach either and I suspect that's why they've switched to the anagram. It is no doubt a lot less expensive to change their name than to change their product. I suppose they hope that eventually the public will forget what the initials stand for. They're hoping to cover their sins instead of getting rid of them.

That's a very human trait, isn't it? We all have a hard time admitting our faults, our wrongdoings. We even use words like wrongdoings instead of the straightforward word, sins. We will go to great lengths to cover them up and try desperately to avoid their consequences. That usually just makes things worse.

Those companies who try to hide their real names aren't fooling anyone. The public knows their product is bad and will choose whether or not to avoid it. We don't fool anyone by trying to cover up our sins either. They are always obvious, if not to the people around us, most certainly to God. He waits for us to admit them, like a father will ask his son to tell him why he's being punished, not to humiliate him, but to make sure he understands.

It is the admitting that allows us to know we are forgiven. When we confess our sins to God, we aren't telling him anything he doesn't already know. But the instant we confess, we can be assured of forgiveness and know we are released from the guilt. There may still be consequences, but forgiveness is always available to us. Living with guilt and the fear of being found out can have serious ramifications in our lives. That's why we are urged to keep short accounts, with those around us and with God. The apostle James told the people that, as he was giving them direction for their daily spiritual lives. He said ? "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed" (James 5:16). We know confession is good for the soul. It is also good for the body.

Agreeing with God about our sin is the first step. A change in name won't hide the truth.

Marcia Laycock is a pastor's wife and freelance writer living in Alberta Canada.  Her devotional book, The Spur of the Moment has been endorsed by Janette Oke, Phil Callaway and others.  To order, and to view more of Marcia's writing, see her web site - www.vinemarc.com
Copyright Marcia Lee Laycock, 2000, 2001,2002,2003,2004,2005