Have you ever discovered something surprising about someone you admired, and it shocked you? It could’ve been a long-held secret or dark side that was exposed. Whatever it was, did it leave you shaking your head afterward? Jesus spoke to this when he said, “nothing is hidden.” There are no secrets. You might be able to conceal it for a while, but eventually, it will be exposed.
Luke 8:17
“For nothing is hidden that will not become evident, nor anything secret that will not be known and come to light.”
Not Worth the Effort
Jesus is talking about sin. He wants everyone to know that they can try to hide it but eventually, it be made known. At the same time, He is telling us God sees everything. I don’t think Jesus is trying to use scare tactics but is trying to save us from a lot of wasted effort. It takes a lot of work to keep up the lies and deception in an attempt to fool people. That’s why when people’s sins are finally exposed, they express some relief because they are exhausted.
Start with Being Honest
When you are confronted with the temptation, it is easy to tell yourself some lies to ease the guilt. “No one is looking” and “It won’t hurt anyone” are common misnomers that help people rationalize their sin. Jesus says it isn’t worth the effort. It will only be exposed and make it worse. Start with being honest and realistic about what could happen.
There Are No Secrets
Maybe you are hiding some sin that is eating away at you. You want to confess, but the embarrassment of being found out is too much for you bear. It is always better to be proactive in these circumstances than to be found out. It may not lessen the consequences, but you will have some peace of mind that you took action to deal with it instead of being exposed.