Certain verses in the Bible are comforting and others troubling. Here’s one of the more startling:

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

I immediately turn to myself and think—everything? Every thought, attitude, muttering under my breath now bare as a desert before the Lord? That’s super uncomfortable. Then the follow-up gets worse—I must account for the mess God views? Try to explain it all? Not much chance of that.

This points to our need for God’s word to carve deep fissures in our hearts, to create God-honoring thoughts and attitudes. The verse prior reads:

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

It’s best to let the words of God judge our ways of thinking and treating others, and then guide us toward better practices. Ignoring all that and dealing with a righteous and holy God down the road, well, no one wants that confrontation.

Immediately following we read of Jesus, who cleared a path to move toward the Lord, even with our lousy, embarrassing lives. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

No where to run and no where to hide? That’s our situation. But with the words of God forming my mind, and the sacrifice of Jesus covering my soul, I can actually approach the Lord with confidence.

Meaning there’s no more need to run, and no more need to hide.

Hebrews 4 in Through the Bible in 2024

Photo by JC Gellidon