A verse in Hebrews should make all aware about what they think and do in life each day. In chapter 4:12-13: For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. 13 Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. In other words, God sees all and knows all about all in this world that he created.

In the Garden of Eden Adam and Eve hid from God. They had disobeyed and now were fully aware that they were both spiritually and physically naked in front of God and tried to hide their nakedness. Too late, they realized that they had denied their dependence upon their creator, thinking that they were sufficient unto themselves for living the life given to them. They were ashamed of their nakedness and sewed clothes in an attempt to hide their shame.

Each person is no different today than were Adam and Eve. Everyone, no matter how good they think they may be, tries to hide their sin in the darkness of secrecy and in the literal darkness of night. They try to hide the shame of their deeds. Jesus said that the darkness came from sin and then sin bore fruit from the inside of man; Mat 6:22 The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. 23 But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness, how great is that darkness!  Great is the darkness of sin that those who so partake try to hide from everyone.

Jesus knew the mind of the scribes when he healed the man sick with palsy: Matthew 9:3-4: And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth. 4 And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? Jesus knew what they were thinking and called it evil.  He didn’t fit their notions of what was right in their sight.  They had their minds set on darkness.   

In Matthew 15:18-20 Jesus said about the heart which brings forth the evil deeds of darkness: 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man. 19 For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man. Jesus was speaking in the context to the Jews who thought it was wrong to eat without washing the hands. Outward appearance and observances did nothing to do away with the evil lurking inside. The behaviors he listed are the behaviors of darkness and most are committed under the cover of darkness to avoid detection.

Paul wrote to the Corinthians in I Corinthians 4:5: Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. Going back to Hebrews for comparison, Paul said the same thing to the Corinthians as the Hebrew writer said in his letter to those people. The Lord can come in two ways to bring forth the hidden darkness. Through the message or word of God, those walking in sin can hear the need to obey the gospel. In that way, the hidden things in the life of the sinner are exposed silently to the hearer of the word. The second way is when Jesus returns again and all will be witness of the hidden evil in the hearts of the disobedient. The evidence of it will be the fact of no salvation for those who have not obeyed and lived the new life in Christ.

© 03-23-2003 DEC

Revised 08-22-2008

               Next Lesson Hiding From God Part II