Verse of the day: Jeremiah 23:24 Can anyone hide himself in
secret places, So I shall not see him?” says the Lord; “Do I not fill heaven and earth?” says the Lord.
In this
verse, the Lord is rebuking the false prophets who are prophesying in His Name,
when God has not spoken to them. He is condemning these false prophets who
prophesy in His Name, yet their lives and behaviors are completely contrary to
those who are true followers of God, leading His people astray. Although this
occurred so many years ago, today, this still holds true. We have so many who
preach in the Name of Jesus, yet their hearts and intentions are corrupt. They
use the Word of God for their own gain, and their secret lives do not match
their public lives. However, just as God reminded those false prophets that He
sees all, and nothing is hidden from Him, it would behoove us to heed the same
warning today. I am not talking just about those who are pastors and teachers,
I am talking to each of us who proclaim that we are followers of Jesus, but our
live do not line up with what we say we believe. I am talking both to the
preacher who stands before the masses preaching a false gospel, and preaching for
self-gain, fame, and wealth; but also well to the lay Christian who uses the
Word of God to build a façade for their “religiosity”. God warns that what we
sow, we will reap (Gal 6:7). The Scripture is clear that our God is omniscient,
and sees all. In Psalm 139:7-12, King David reminds us that even if we made our
bed in Hell, God is there. Darkness and light are the same before God. Where
can we go to hide from Him? He sees all, and knows all. 2 Chronicles 16:9 tells
us that the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth. No one
will escape His judgment. It is for this reason that we need not be overly
concerned about those who do wickedly against us and prosper, as if this is
something that will not be repaid in due time. Proverbs 11:21 tells us that the
evil man will not go unpunished. Psalm 37:1-3 tells us not to envy the
prosperity of the wicked. Instead, we are to trust God and do good; for the
Lord, just as He sees the works of the wicked, also sees our faithfulness to
Him in Christ, our service to Him, and all the good we do in Christ. What we do
for Him, with the right intentions, and motivations, will be rewarded in due
time (Col 3:23-24; Rom 2:6; 1 Cor 15:58). Let us not forget that God knows the
intentions of the heart (Ps 44:21; Lk 16:15; Rom 8:27). God promised that false
teachers would meet their judgment and punishment (2 Pt 2:4-11). Knowing that
God sees all, and knows all, why would we not then do all we can to be honest
in who we are in Christ? Why would we think that we can preach one thing, and
live another, and God not see it? These false prophets, and today’s false
teachers, are blinded by their own wickedness. Let us not, as God’s children,
fall into the same trap, thinking that our secret sins are not seen by our God.
Let us not think that just because we can put up a religious front before man, and
God is gracious and patiently convicts and waits for us to turn back to Him,
that we can deceive an omniscient, all-knowing God. Sooner or later the Lord
will say, “Enough is enough.” Let us strive to live honestly before God, asking
Him to show us what is in our hearts (Ps 139:23-24), cleansing us, and doing
the most we can to feed the desire to live holy lives, by doing what is good
and righteous before God. Let us begin today by repenting and confessing the
secret sins we hold on to, knowing full well that God knows every thought, sees
every action and deed, even if no one else sees them. He promises that if we
confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us and cleanse us of all
unrighteousness (1 Jn 1:8-10).
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