Scripture:
Luke 12:2-3, “But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed and hidden that will not be known. Accordingly whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the Light and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.
Observation:
You won’t get away with it. That seems to be what Jesus was saying to the thousands gathered to hear Him. He had just ripped into the Pharisees and the lawyers for their hypocrisy and He turned to the crowd and said, “Don’t be like them.” These religious leaders looked great on the outside and talked a good game in public, but Jesus saw straight through them. He knew that behind closed doors they were frauds. They didn’t practice any of what they preached and it wasn’t OK. After exposing the dark side of the religious leaders he told the people that whatever you think you can get away with behind closed doors, when you’re out of town, or in some dark back alley, just know that there will come a day when everything you’ve done and who you really are will be exposed – shouted from the top of the roof.
Application:
This is a clear call for integrity in my life. Today it is so easy to cloak dark deeds behind the secrecy of the internet, the convenience of cell phones and the illusion that what happen in Vegas – or any other place out of town – will not follow you home. But Jesus said what happens in Vegas eventually will be broadcast to the world to my shame. What I do when no one is looking, how I talking the privacy of my own room, every impure motive and every hint of hypocrisy is fully within the eyesight of God. Light and dark are nothing to him. He knows my thoughts, so I know He sees and hears everything I say, text or email. If a bird can’t fall to the ground without His knowledge, then obviously I can’t act like a fool and think that no one sees. He promises me that every event will be exposed. This makes me check myself. Is there anything in my life that would embarrass me if it were revealed? Am I hiding things and keeping secrets? Am I indulging in the dark in things I would denounce in the light? If so, get it out now. Don’t wait and think I can get away with it – I never will.
Prayer:
Lord I want integrity in my life. I have seen so many people ruined by hypocrisy and private lives full of fraudulent behavior. Lord I never want to hurt you, my family, or our church by living a double life. Like David in Psalm 139, I say search me and see. Is there any matter, any thing, any action or attitude that I’m tolerating that is hypocritical? Father you are light and I long to live in that light. Please continue in Your grace to refine me and purify me. Father, guard my steps and ways. Please don’t allow hypocrisy and duplicity to creep in and be a part of my life. Lord I want everything I do, publicly and privately, to be pleasing to you. My life is before you – an open book – please guard the integrity of my heart.
– Chip Henderson, senior pastor
