Nothing to Hide

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"But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do" (John 3:21, Contemporary English Version).

"Pssst. Hey, you there..." -- it's how the devil begins many of his conversations. He must draw you aside into an alley, the darker the better, in order to peddle his wares. And if he succeeds, then a stain with set upon your soul and you will live from that moment forward with something to hide.

Adam and Eve hid from God in the Garden, and then covered themselves in fig leaves in an attempt to hide from one another. The Human Family has been doing this ever since. And we hide in a thousand different ways. Ironically, Religion is one of the favorite hiding places. Amidst the bells and smells, the pomp and ceremony, the robes and scepters, the songs and homilies, the smiles and social affections -- one may hide quite easily, and go undetected for many years.

And in this regard the devil has no problem whatsoever with you being a good, dutiful church-goer. For as long as you live with something to hide -- he's got you right where he wants you.

Jesus said, "I spoke openly to the world. I always taught in synagogues and in the temple, where the Jews always meet, and in secret I have said nothing" (John 18:20). Earlier He said, "I am the Light of the World. He that follows Me will not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life" (ch.8:12).

The third "nothing" with which we defeat the devil is -- "Nothing to Hide." And a life with nothing to hide comes from walking in God's light.

In one of His first recorded conversations, Jesus, speaking to Nicodemus (a ruler of the Jews), said, "Men love darkness rather than light, because their deeds are evil. For everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come to the the light lest his deeds be reproved. But everyone who lives by the truth will come to the light, because they want others to know that God is really the one doing what they do" (John 3:19-21).

A man or woman with nothing to hide will come to the light and walk in great freedom, experiencing unbounded blessings; despite all the attempts by others to shut them down in silence. They, like Isaiah, may confidently say, "You will give us peace and prosperity, LORD, because everything we have done was by your power; everything that we achieve is the result of what you do." (Isaiah 26:12 from CEV, and GNB).

Satan cannot defeat a man or woman who are walking in God's light, living a life with nothing to fear, nothing to lose, and nothing to hide.

When we were kids we played Hide 'n Go Seek. The seeker would eventually sound the words that brought everyone out of hiding without penalty of being caught, "Ollie, Ollie in come free!" And now, if you listen closely, you can the same call from the ramparts of heaven. You can come out of hiding and live in the light!

Do it my friend, and you will defeat the Prince of Darkness!
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