Issue 821 – Plain Sight – August 9, 2022
On Saturday, Kathy and I had a picnic on the edge of Browne Creek Wetlands, in Yarrow, BC, alongside the banks of the Vedder River. It is part of the Rotary Walking Loop and was busy with walkers, bicyclists and anglers. While Kathy picked some delicious blackberries, I watched the river and saw a couple of salmon. None of the anglers was having any success.
I watched a large blue heron alight in the trees across the river from me. It was virtually invisible to the naked eye as long as it stood still. I would never have noticed it if I had not known precisely where to look and what I was looking for. It was hiding in plain sight.
Similarly, I saw this snowshoe hare a couple of years ago. If I hadn’t seen it hop into position, I would have walked right by it and never seen it. Stillness and natural camouflage are its friends. Once again, it was able to hide in plain sight.
For many animals hiding in plain sight is their best defence. Unfortunately, it is also an art many Christians try to emulate.
They are perfectly content to have faith and perhaps even attend Sunday worship regularly. The rest of the week, they hide their faith and try to blend into the world. Sometimes, no one ever suspects they have faith. They are invisible.
We might try to hide our faith, but it is integral to who we are. We don’t put it on and take it off at will. Either the Holy Spirit dwells in us and conforms us to the image of Jesus, or He doesn’t.
Hiding our faith is contrary to what the Lord wants us to do. In fact, He condemns it.
And he said to them, “Is a lamp brought in to be put under a basket, or under a bed, and not on a stand? For nothing is hidden except to be made manifest; nor is anything secret except to come to light. If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” And he said to them, “Pay attention to what you hear: with the measure you use, it will be measured to you, and still more will be added to you. For to the one who has, more will be given, and from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.” Matthew 4:21-25
And calling the crowd to him with his disciples, he said to them, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospel’s will save it. For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world and forfeit his soul? For what can a man give in return for his soul? For whoever is ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him will the Son of Man also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.”
Mark 8:34-38
God is sovereign over all things. Our hiding will not thwart his plan. Those He has called will come to faith.
We only hurt ourselves. We cause inner turmoil by hiding our true nature. We rob ourselves of the blessings of obedience. We may be subject to the Lord’s discipline for our disobedience.
We steal from others the opportunity to see God at work in us. They won’t see how God remains faithful in our good times and the bad or how he forgives us and shows His grace and mercy in our lives.
It isn’t a harmless deception when we hide our light under the proverbial bushel or bed. It is a sin; everyone loses out through our rebellion and disobedience.
The good news is that it is not too late because of God’s great providence and mercy. We can confess the sin and ask the Lord to strengthen us to shine for His glory. He is faithful and just and will forgive our sins.
Don’t be content to hide your true self. As a Christian, you are a child of the Most High King, a peacemaker, an ambassador for Christ and a favoured one of God. Being seen as a Christian isn’t always easy, but it is always the best path.
As for me, I pray that the Lord lets this little light of mine shine. How about you?
Hallelu Yah (Praise God)
Be blessed
Kevin.
Gleanings From The Word.
Experience an extraordinary God in ordinary life.
Soli Deo Gloria (for the glory of God alone.)
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