There’s a common defense mechanism we all fall back on when we know we’ve done wrong: we explain it. We rationalize. We soften it. We throw a cloak of good intention over it and hope no one looks too closely. Sometimes, we even convince ourselves.

But the truth remains, wrong is still wrong. 

Jesus addressed this very tendency in Luke 16:15 when He said, “You are those who justify yourselves before men, but God knows your hearts. For what is highly esteemed among men is an abomination in the sight of God.” This is a sobering verse. It reminds us that no amount of spin, or self-justification, or applause from others can change what God sees underneath.

People in Jesus’ day, especially the religious leaders, were experts at appearances. They tithed mint and herbs, made long prayers in public, and kept up the image of holiness. But Jesus knew their hearts. He saw through the cloak. And He sees through ours, too.

Conscience may grow quiet when we feed it enough excuses, but it never dies completely. Deep down, we usually know when something is off. Still, we persist in the habit of decorating our wrongdoing, “I only said that because I was stressed,” “It’s not gossip if it’s true,” “No one got hurt, so it’s fine.”

But all of these are just thin layers of reason draped over what we hope no one sees. And what is hidden now will not stay hidden forever. In time, truth always has a way of peeling back appearances.

So what’s the answer? Humility. Honesty. Repentance.

David gives us a glimpse into this heart in Psalm 51:6: “Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.” God doesn’t ask for perfection, but He does ask for truthfulness in our hearts. That means refusing to cover up our sin with noble-sounding motives. It means calling wrong what it is and trusting God’s grace to make it right. In the end, it’s not about how things look to others, or even how they sound when we explain them. It’s about what God sees. And He sees everything clearly, no cloak can fool Him.

So today, if there’s something you’ve been covering, take it to Him. Drop the excuses. Be real. His mercy is not for the well-defended, but for the honest and broken. And when we walk in that light, the weight of pretending finally lifts.

By: Justin Odom