Proverbs 5:21. For a man’s ways are before the eyes of the Lord, and he ponders all his paths.
There is no such thing as a secret sin is there? God sees it all and knows everything that we do. Everything that is done by man is done right in front of God. Have you ever tried to hide from God? Many people in the Bible have tried and failed haven’t they?
- Adam and Eve tried to hide when they ate the fruit.
- Achan tried to hide the treasure he stole.
- Jonah tried to hide from God on a boat.
- Ananias and Sapphira tried to hide the money that they promised to God.
We are fools when we think God doesn’t constantly see us and know everything we do. We are wise when we live our lives openly before God, face to face with him, knowing that he sees everything we do and yet still loves us so. Of course, Jesus is the only person who ever lived in wisdom all the time. He knew that his Heavenly Father was with him constantly and watching everything he did. But that didn’t scare him. It comforted him. He never once tried to hide from God the Father. Living his life in front of God gave him reason to live, and reason to die – to bring glory to God and salvation to his fellow man.
Do you live openly before God? Are there areas of your life that you are afraid to bring up with Jesus? If Jesus knew that about me, he would definitely give up on me.
In Christ we can live boldly before God too. Yes, we still sin. Yes, we even foolishly try to hide our sin from God. But when we remember that God has forgiven all our sins through Jesus, then, and only then, can we live a wise life in front of God knowing that he sees all we do, and that’s a good thing. He still loves us in spite of what we do (or don’t do). The more we trust in that exposing love of God in Christ, the less we will feel the need to hide from God ever again.
Then, as we accept that we no longer have to live hidden from God, we can stop trying to hide from one another. We can live openly and honestly in the community of love that the Lord Jesus has placed us in – the church. Confessing to one another and speaking the truth in love to one another. Finally, an authentic life without the fig leaves of self-justification trying desperately to cover up our shame.
Does this sound too good to be true? Does it sound terrifying? It might feel that way at first, but the more we put God’s grace to the test in honest community, the more we will learn to rely on Christ alone for our validation and vindication. It’s true that others may not appreciate your openness and may even use it against you, but if God is for us (he is) then who can ever stand against us. No one, that’s who.
You: Do you live your life openly before God, or are you trying to hide parts of your life from him?
You in Christ: How can trusting your union with Christ allow you to live openly, without hiding from God?
Christ in you: How can Christ in you expose part of your life that’s been hidden today? Do you have a group of loving Christian friends that you can open up to?
Pray: Father, I am not afraid to live my life in front of you. Help me to live face to face with you in confidence of your unceasing love for me in Christ. Amen.
To Live is Christ 