In 1976, a psychiatric examination was ordered for a woman who admitted she "willfully and knowingly" attempted to kill President Ford. When she was informed that there was a possibility she could be sent to jail for life, she replied that she could see "no reasonably honest and honorable" way of avoiding it. "There comes a point," she declared, "when we each have to answer to ourselves, and it is with our own conscience that we must make peace."

The woman's sanity was questioned because she admitted her guilt. The judge ordered the tests after she had openly acknowledged her wrongdoing instead of offering the expected denial.

This woman's experience reminded me of the sanity of confessing our sins to the Lord. In our modern world, owning up to one's guilt rather than trying to "beat the rap" may be considered a sign of instability, but in God's sight it's the only sensible thing to do. The Bible says, "He who covers his sins will not prosper" (Prov. 28:13). But remember that the Bible also says, "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins" (1 Jn. 1:9).

If you have disobeyed the Lord, admit it and receive His forgiveness. It's the only sane thing to do!  — Richard De Haan