What’s God hiding?

by Don Schiemann

Rev. Don Schiemann

2013 will likely be known as the year of political scandals. In the Canadian Senate, two conservative and one liberal senator were investigated because of “irregularities” in their expense claims. In Toronto, the now-infamous Mayor Rob Ford has admitted to purchasing illegal drugs and to smoking crack cocaine. Justin Trudeau, the head of the federal Liberal Party of Canada, has admitted to smoking marijuana as a sitting Member of Parliament. One wonders what new skeletons may still be in the closets of other political leaders.

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, the author of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries, once played a practical joke on ten of his friends—each a person of power and influence in English society and politics. He sent each one of them an anonymous telegram which said “Flee at once! You have been discovered!” Within 24 hours, nine of the ten men had fled the country.

No doubt, everyone can think of things he has said, thought, or done that he would much rather not disclose to anyone—especially to God. But God already knows! King David reminded his son Solomon: “The LORD searches every heart and understands every motive behind the thoughts” (1 Chronicles 28:9).

In the epiphany of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, God has dared to make His heart known to us.  St. Paul wrote, “The mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the saints. To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory” (Colossians 1:26-27).

God has nothing to hide. In the Gospel, He opens wide His heart and reveals forgiveness, life, and salvation to us in Jesus Christ. Through the atoning death of Christ at the cross and by the power of His resurrection, God washes us clean. Every sin is paid for, including the ones which we have hidden in the deep recesses of our heart and mind.

God has nothing to hide. In the Gospel, He opens wide His heart and reveals forgiveness, life, and salvation to us in Jesus Christ.

There will come a day when Christ will come again to judge the world. Scripture speaks of that day as the time “when God will judge men’s secrets through Jesus Christ” (Romans 2:16). What a blessing to know that, through faith in Christ, our slate is wiped clean. We are forgiven and God has removed our sin from us as far as the east is from the west. On this basis, St. Paul was bold to ask the rhetorical question, “Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies” (Romans 8:33).

We can live our life dreading the prospect of discovery and punishment; or we can live our life as God’s forgiven and restored people. We can live in fear and shame or in the forgiveness and freedom we have in the Gospel. It makes a huge difference in life now as well as in eternity. Can you imagine what it is to live under the promise “Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1)? You don’t have to imagine. The promise is there for you to embrace through faith. As one radio talk show host says, “Now, go take on the day!”

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Rev. Don Schiemann is President of the Alberta-British Columbia District of Lutheran Church–Canada.

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