Perhaps you have some secrets in your life that you have never told anyone: secret things in your past, secret things that you desire, secret plans that you have made, or secret fears that you have. What you should not have are secret sins that you hold on to. 1 Timothy 5:24-25 “Some men’s sins are clearly evident, preceding them to judgment, but those of some men follow later. Likewise, the good works of some are clearly evident, and those that are otherwise cannot be hidden.” Some sins are obvious and open for everyone to see. But some are hidden and God will deal with them later.
God is all seeing; He knows everything that you do. Hebrews 4:12-13 “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” There is nothing hidden from God; everything is naked and open before him. He can even discern the thoughts and intents of your heart. Daniel 2:20-22 “Daniel answered and said: ‘Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, for wisdom and might are His. And He changes the times and the seasons; He removes kings and raises up kings; He gives wisdom to the wise and knowledge to those who have understanding. He reveals deep and secret things; He knows what is in the darkness, and light dwells with Him.’” Deeds even done in darkness are not hidden from Him.
God knows everything about you; there are no secrets from God. Psalms 90:8 “You have set our iniquities before You, our secret sins in the light of Your countenance.” Since God already knows your sins, you should then be open and honest with God. Confess your weaknesses, your failings and your sins to God that he may forgive you. 1 John 1:8-9 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Seek the cleansing from God that He offers when you humble yourself before Him. God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble (James 4:6). Psalms 19:12-13 “Who can understand his errors? Cleanse me from secret faults. Keep back Your servant also from presumptuous sins; let them not have dominion over me. Then I shall be blameless, and I shall be innocent of great transgression.”
Jesus condemned the hypocrisy of the Jewish leaders of His day. Matthew 23:27-28 “Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which indeed appear beautiful outwardly, but inside are full of dead men’s bones and all uncleanness. Even so you also outwardly appear righteous to men, but inside you are full of hypocrisy and lawlessness.” Don’t be like that. Don’t be a hypocrite who appears righteous on the outside but you hide your lawlessness and sin. My encouragement is to live an honest life. 2 Corinthians 4:2 “But we have renounced the hidden things of shame, not walking in craftiness nor handling the word of God deceitfully, but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God.”
We have addressed secret sins. What about secret righteous deeds that you do? Matthew 6:3-6 “But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” Actions such as your charitable deeds, your prayer, your fasting and your Bible study should not be done by you to make a show so that you will receive the praise of others. Instead, they should be secret between you and God. Not everything good that you do will be a secret; how you live your life and the results of your righteous deeds will be obvious to others. Matthew 5:16 “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” It is good for others to see your good works, but don’t do the good works so that they will be seen by others and so that they will praise you.
1 Corinthians 4:5 “Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts. Then each one’s praise will come from God.” Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 “Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: fear God and keep His commandments, for this is man’s all. For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” Whether your secrets are good or evil, God will bring every work of yours into judgement. So cleanse yourself of secret sins. If you have secrets, let them be the secret good things that you do from your heart that please God.