“The sins of some people are conspicuous, going before them to judgment, but the sins of others appear later. So also good works are conspicuous, and even those that are not cannot remain hidden.” - 1 Timothy 5:24-25
I was filling out an application for something or other on-line and the program used to verify that I was who I claimed to be asked, “At which of the following addresses have you lived in the past? Check all that apply.” It then presented me with a list of street addresses, with a check-box beside each one. I checked off all the addresses that I recognized as places where I had lived at some point. The identity-verifying program rejected my application.
If the Internet has taught us anything, it’s this: there are no secrets. There may even be details about my life that I’ve forgotten, but they’re still available somewhere out there.
Sometimes we convince ourselves that no one will ever know about something we’re doing, whether it’s good or bad, but God assures us that sooner or later it will all be known. His knowledge, not only of my outward actions but even of what goes on in my heart, is far superior to and more complete than the recently-invented Internet.
There are no secrets, and the day is coming much sooner than we think, when we will each give an account of our life to God.
The good news is that if I am found in Christ, all my sins are forgiven, washed away in His blood. “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.” (Ephesians 2:13)
Don’t try to hide anything from God. It’s useless; He already knows all about it, good and bad. Keep short accounts with God. Confess your sins and let Him deal with them. His forgiveness is far greater than You dare to hope, and His power to save, heal and deliver is infinite.
Father in Heaven, You know my heart and everything I have done. Thank You for offering me forgiveness for Jesus’ sake. Take away my guilt and deliver me from my own sinful habits and desires. Change my heart until it reflects Your own character in the way I think, the way I speak, and the way I live, in Jesus’ name. Amen.
Pastor Dan Giles
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