The Hidden Things

Now all has been heard;
here is the conclusion of the matter:
Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.
For God will bring every deed into judgment,
including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil. — Ecclesiastes 12:13-14

I have this saying that I use in “counseling” people who feel like others “get away” with doing wrong things while they get “called out” for what seems like every little thing. Proverbs 24:1 tells us not to “envy wicked men.” Unfortunately, it is easy to envy those who are taking the easy way and seem to have it all…it certainly seems they have much more than you. My saying is this: “Nobody gets away with anything!”

When I got my first job at a golf course as a cart attendant, I remember my very first day. There was only one other person that was working that evening and it was our job to close up. Well, the kid I was working with found out that if you put money in the drink machine, then pressed the money return button and held it down, it just kept on spitting out quarters. By the time he was done, over 400 quarters came out of the machine. Every fiber of my being was screaming that it was wrong. He must have sensed my uneasiness because he “made” me (quotations because it was ultimately my choice) take half of the money. That “blood” money bothered me for about a week or so, but I didn’t know what to do…I was too scared to turn the guy in and I kept thinking I’d get fired from a really cool job if I did. Nobody called us out. In fact, we never heard a word about it. There wasn’t anything ever spoken about money being stolen from the machine. So, we got away with it…right?

People are “hiding” things like this every day. I mean, if I hadn’t told you that story, you would have never known. There are men that look at pornography after their wives go to bed, and their wives never know. There are hidden alcohol and drug addictions. There are people that are gaining money in dishonest ways. Maybe they’re stealing from their employer. Maybe they’re stealing credit card numbers. Maybe they’re hacking into computers to steal identities. Who knows? They think nobody knows, but God knows! He sees what we are hiding, and nobody gets away with anything. For God will bring every deed into judgment.

These verses say “whether it is good or evil” We can do hidden things that are good and be judged for them as well. If you seek to conquer sin in your life, you’ll be rewarded! (Check out Revelation 2:26…and there are lots of these in Revelation.) If you read the Word and pray in complete privacy, I mean nobody knows but you and God…you’ll be rewarded! (Check out Matthew 6:5-13.) If you are seeking Him, and going after Him with all your heart, you’ll be rewarded! God knows the motivation of your heart!

He knows if I’m playing the guitar or doing my job for Him, or simply doing it for myself! He knows if the reason I preach the Word is to make myself look good, or if I’m really trying to advance His kingdom. He knows if I am a fake. Since I started WMD, I’ve been called a “false prophet” by a few people. Some people think I’m spreading “lies.“ I’m okay with that…let’s face it, God knows everything and nothing is hidden. He knows my heart I beg Him every day to make my heart pure and clean! I absolutely hate what I find in my own heart sometimes. But, God is faithful and He gives me grace and mercy. Every time I repent of a “cancer” in my heart…He fills it up with more of Himself. He’s making me more and more like Himself every single day. Have I arrived? Nope, never will…at least until the day He calls me Home.

If there are hidden things that you don‘t want God to judge you for…repent now while you still have time! If you still do those kind of things, stop immediately…or at least begin to pray for Him to help you stop. If you don’t have the hidden discipline of studying God’s Word, praying, giving, and fasting in your life, there‘s no better day to start than today. Instead of asking God all the time for forgiveness because of hidden things that you’ve done that are wrong, start doing the hidden things that are right. He will change your heart, and you’ll never regret the time you spend with Him.

Later

Adam