Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Hebrews 4:13
Every once in a while someone asks the question that we’ve been hoping that no one would ask. You know what I’m talking about. They found out about some weakness or failure on our part.
They’ve got the goods. They have some juicy tidbits that would expose who we really are. They’d show the world how we’ve been a fraud all along. That the picture of our perfect little world would be torn, showing exactly who we are.
But some of us have come up with a plan. A way to avoid letting the truth get out there. Some of us know that it’s only a matter of time before someone starts to question us about this. So, some of us even plan and practice how to react when this happens.
For the experts at hiding, there are four things to be done. Or, at least tried.
Dismiss. This is where we just wave our hand in the air like we’re swatting a fly. We say things like, “Oh, are you kidding me? How could you be stupid enough to believe that.” Part of dismissing is to make the other person feel small. To put them down with words or attitude.
Lie. This is like dismissing but changes the charge with something else. It gives another piece of information for what we’ve been accused of. “No. I didn’t steal anything. Someone else must have taken it.” We quickly and flatly deny that we had anything to do with it.
Silence. When asked an uncomfortable question, or one that you don’t want to talk about, you just shut up. You smile and refuse to say anything. Or you might frown to let them know that you’re not happy followed with roaring, ear-splitting quiet.
Change the subject. No matter what we’re accused of, we immediately start talking about something else. If they question our integrity, a good subject change is to bring up some recent event that everyone knows about. That every is excited about and had a strong opinion on.
Right now, you’re asking yourself, “How can Chet wrote so well on these things? Did he do lots of research? What books did he read on this subject? What websites did he visit and read to become so knowledgeable? Was this part of his final paper in psychology before being awarded some degree?”
Well, I wish that were the case. The truth is that I’ve practiced all of these things. In fact, I’m so good at them that I can just about escape from any question or verbal handcuffs. I’m the Harry Houdini of questions. I’m so slippery that it’s very hard to nail me down on anything I don’t want to talk about. But try as I might, I can’t get away from God. His questions are just too good. He knows everything about me. More than knowing my actions, he sees and hears every thought that rattles around in my brain. And he never gets tired of staying with me, repeating the convicting thoughts that I’m desperately trying to avoid.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:11,12
When it says that everything is uncovered before God, it means just that. Nothing is hidden under the covers. There’s no such thing as a closed door to God. It means more than just physical hiding, there’s also our mental and emotional hiding. Denying that we think about certain things. Hiding our emotions behind some Mr. Spock mask. To God, everything is easily seen. He doesn’t have to strain or wipe away the fog. It’s right there in front of him. All the time.
But more than uncovering, my life and heart are laid bare to God. The curtain’s been pulled back and there’s nothing between me and God. I am totally exposed to the sharp edge of his words. His Spirit has total and free insight into all of me. He can pull back everything and anything.
His words can slice its way through all my denials and defenses. He can crush any and all my excuses. He can overpower all my arguments. He has the authority and might to crush me like a bug. But his desire is to heal and restore.
When I had both hips replaced, the skilled surgeon did some incredibly hurtful and harmful things to my body. He cut through skin and muscle. He chopped off the top of my thigh bone. He drilled out bone from my pelvis. He then hammered and screwed in pieces of metal before sewing me up.
The result is that I can now walk pain free. The process wasn’t easy or simple. There was lots of pain and exercise. But I’d never go back to the way it was. Why? Because the end result is worth the pain.
And that’s exactly where God is. He wants to go into our hidden and covered places to heal and restore us. Remember, Jesus dies for all our sins, and that includes the ones in our hidden and covered places. So, since he already knows and forgave them, why not invite him in?
Noodling Questions
How good are you at hiding and covering things? Explain.
Why is hiding from God the dumbest idea in the universe?
Give three ways that we can invite someone into our hidden and covered places.
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