Nothing Hidden

By |Published On: July 7, 2018|Categories: 4-Minute Radio Program|

Hi, I’m Joni Eareckson Tada with a marvelous story about heaven.

My friend Sherrill and I used to sit with each other in our wheelchairs and oh, we would love to talk about heaven. We would park our wheelchairs and speak fondly and wistfully about the day when we would take that first step on celestial soil and jump up on strong, resurrected legs. I tell you, paralyzed people like me and Sherrill have a lot invested in heaven, and for us, it’s always a great topic for discussion. But Sherrill had one reservation. It was that mysterious verse in Hebrews Chapter 4, verse 13 where it says, “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.” 

Sherrill really struggled with that part where “everything is uncovered and laid bare before His eyes”. She really shuddered at the idea.  She said, “Joni, I’m so worried about all the mistakes I’ve made, the failures and the awful sins. I don’t want those things exposed and laid bare. The way I see it, if God will know, everyone will know. That makes me feel really uneasy,” she said.

You know, I understand. It’s why the Bible says that the fear of the Lord is a deterrent to sin. Our Father in heaven tells us to be holy, as He is holy. Shedding sinful habits is a key and critical sign that we’re growing in the Lord. But that doesn’t mean Sherrill needs to be afraid. On the contrary, Hebrews Chapter 4 verse 13 is not about sad or just sinful things; no, think of the flip side of that verse. God’s eyes don’t miss the good you do, either. He keeps a count of all the times you hold your tongue, the times you patiently endure hardship; leaning on Christ, and if He is going to expose anything, how about how you hold up under pressure with a godly response, the times you give; secretly, with no thought of return; the times you offer an encouraging word when you are bone tired, all of that is laid bare before His searching gaze.

Jesus is Sherrill’s advocate. Jesus is her defense. If, in heaven, our hidden faults are laid bare, Jesus will step in and say, “Hey, I died for that sin. My grace covered that fault. The cross took care of that iniquity.” And all that will be remembered is the righteousness of Jesus Christ in and through you.

Sherrill lives in a solitary and lonely apartment, hidden away from the sight of others. But I told her, “Oh Sherrill, you may be shut in and shut away from so much of life, but you are not hidden from God. He takes careful note of your patience and endurance, your long-suffering and perseverance; He takes note of how you read His word and follow it. All your tears are in His bottle, and He records every single one of your sorrows. Your obedience will one day be laid bare, and you will be able to boast about Jesus in front of God; for He’s the one who rescues and saves.

So friend, if there is some portion of Scripture that strikes a chord of awesome fear and deep respect for God, then good. Fear of the Lord is supposed to be a deterrent; a holy fear of God is meant to dissuade us from sinning. That’s always a good thing, a wise thing. So get rid of any anxiety you might have about having God expose all things one day, get rid of it by getting rid of anything in your life that displeases the Lord. You don’t want to embarrass your heavenly Advocate; no, no, rather you want to boast in Him on that great and glorious Day. So, obey Him and live life under His gaze, knowing beyond all shadow of a doubt that His is always a look of love.

© Joni and Friends

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