Are You Good at Keeping Secrets?

I would say I’m better than average when it comes to keeping secrets, even though when we’re adults we call them something more sophisticated like “privileged information” or “insider knowledge.” But not only are we told secrets and not only do we tell secrets, we try to live secrets. “Whoa! Hang on man, don’t be prying into my personal life.” Hey, it’s me too. We’ve all tried to live secret lives in some way, shape, or form. Whether it’s lying to someone else, a spouse, a boss, we ultimately lie to ourselves.

Hebrews 4.13 is a terrifying verse in the scriptures: No creature is hidden from God’s sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Yes, it seems uneducated and ancient to believe that there’s a Cosmic Being standing outside of our world that sees all and knows all. However it may seem, I believe it with my whole heart and mind (intellect included). If what that verse says is true, then whatever secret you think you have is no secret at all because you live in a glass house–even if it’s in your house where your dark deeds are carried out. No secrets.

The author follows up in Hebrews 9.27 Just as it is appointed for mankind to die once, and after that comes judgment.

If you don’t believe in judgment, then live like hell. More power to you. If you’re wrong, well–you’re lying to yourself and you’ll get what you wanted–an existence with no grace, no good, and no God. No secrets. No kidding. Expose your secrets for what they are and strip them of the power they have over you. Christ is light, and if we walk in the light…the blood of Jesus cleanses us from all sin.

3 comments

  1. scctnet · March 16, 2011

    Patrick, you make some good points here and got me thinking!

    Being naked before God since He knows all is one thing. Being exposed before others is hard for me.

    So being exposed is a part of being real, which is difficult especially as a ministry leader, in front of those who look up to us for righteousness. I guess that’s where humility and grace comes into play.

    • scctnet · March 16, 2011

      The above comment from scctnet is me, Gary Reed with Ministry Care. It went under my counseling network name. Sorry about that.

    • patricklmitchell · March 16, 2011

      Thanks for the comment Gary. And I think you are incredibly correct to say that humility and grace are in play. It’s difficult in humility to lay ourselves bare at the right moments for the very reason that we require so much grace to lead in the ways we’re called to lead. The hope is that people are ready and willing to offer said grace!

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