When Things Remain Hidden

"When Things Remain Hidden" – Luke 12:2 When things remain hidden it may seem that no one knows them; but before God nothing is hidden and, in the end, everything will come to light. Jesus taught that there are things a human being can hide from other people, but nothing can be hidden from God: He knows the deed, the intention, and the whole truth. Life is one and it has an expiration date; therefore we must live it as clearly and as justly as it deserves, with the same rule for everyone, never growing weary of doing good or of loving.

I. There is nothing covered that shall not be revealed, nor hidden that shall not be known (Luke 12:2).

A. There are things a human being can hide from other people, but not from God.

1. God knows the deed, the intention, and the whole truth. "That is not what I meant" does not change what was said, nor what God already knows.

2. What is covered can come to be revealed; nothing can remain hidden forever. The truth is finally exposed before God.

3. Arranging a conversation so it sounds nice "in the ear" is a lack of uprightness. Uprightness says things as they are: if you offended, ask forgiveness; if you were wrong, apologize. Living behind a cover-up keeps us from growing.

4. The Word enters through the ear and stirs the heart (the closest and most sensitive thing we have), and the heart points out what we lack; the conscience also accuses.

B. When we suspect that something is hidden, we must not despair trying to uncover it ourselves.

1. Worrying about what others hide turns into anxiety and is not the best way; it harms our life and the life of the one who lends us an ear.

2. The best way is to go to God in prayer: the Holy Spirit sets things in order, reveals what is needed, or removes an exaggerated concern. Prayer brings peace; that is the benefit we have.

3. The prayer we must learn: "Lord, if there is something hidden that I need to know, bring it to light in Your time." It may be today, tomorrow, or in a week; do not wait until old age to fix it, but do not despair to solve it this very moment either.

4. It is an art to bring what is hidden to light without causing harm: speaking with peace, to the right person, without running to the neighbor, the cousin, or the uncle, and without holding anyone captive.

5. In meekness we learn how to conduct our lives at work, at home, with our children, with the neighbor, and at the store.

6. Pain is mastered before God, when He sees our tears: "heaven with me." That is what we must seek in order to have discernment, peace, wisdom, and sound judgment, and to act correctly.

II. God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil (Ecclesiastes 12:14).

A. Man can hide something from others, but he can never hide it from God.

1. We think we live in hiding: we say, we give opinions, and we do whatever we please; but God brings everything to light. It is not that people are gossips: it is God who brings everything to light.

2. Everything we do is before God and He will evaluate it justly. God examines everything each person has done, including what was done in secret and others do not know.

3. Nothing is outside His knowledge: neither the good that no one saw, nor the evil that someone tried to hide. In the judgment one either comes out innocent or there is a sentence; how we come out of everything we must live through is in our own hands.

4. God cares for the church of Christ and brings truths out at the precise moment, on the precise day; we have never seen the righteous forsaken.

B. Keeping things hidden makes life sick.

1. Being upset with someone and holding on to a bitter taste is like an acid in the esophagus that rises and falls until it makes an ulcer: one lives without a smile, envying what belongs to others.

2. Jesus knew He would be crucified and that Judas was selling Him, and still He called him "friend"; let us not waste time stuck in place.

3. The one who is always hiding looks for someone to pity him; that is cowardice. The right thing is to face reality and keep walking.

4. What is hidden from men is uncovered before God.

III. Judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and make manifest the counsels of the hearts (1 Corinthians 4:5).

A. Corinthians confirms what Luke and Ecclesiastes teach: the Lord will bring to light what is hidden and make manifest the intentions of the hearts.

1. It may be hidden to us; to God, never. Therefore let us not judge before the time.

2. While the Lord brings things to light in His time, let us ask: "Give me discernment." Discernment is completely important.

3. "Give me peace," because we need peace for everything we have to live through.

4. "Give me wisdom," so as to know how to bring up and handle each matter without harming anyone.

IV. There is no creature that is not manifest in His sight; all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him to whom we must give account (Hebrews 4:13).

A. Nothing is hidden before the eyes of God.

1. There is nothing hidden on this small earth nor in the immensity of the universe, which has no limit; God sees everything.

2. Therefore we cannot live in the church of Christ as enemies, as if it were a battlefield, nor stand around in the corner talking; life becomes a war and it ends faster than we think.

3. Each person will finally answer before God; let us live life carefully, knowing to whom we must give account.

4. After the great tribulation and the millennium, heaven and earth will pass away; the punishment of the enemy, the lake of fire, the gnashing of teeth, and the worm that does not die will remain for eternity (Revelation). We must flee for our lives.

B. Conclusion: settle today what is hidden.

1. What cannot be brought out right now must be worked on until it is brought out once and for all, because one day what you did not bring out will be what exposes you.

2. It is not that "people talk": our deeds and our conduct speak. The Bible says that everything shall come to light.

3. We can hide many things from people, but never from God; therefore let us not live in anguish over what others may be hiding. God knows the whole truth and can bring it to light in His time.

4. The wisdom of God is in the Holy Spirit who dwells in our lives. Amen.