Nothing is hidden forever
Luke 8:16-18
16 “No one after lighting a lamp hides it under a jar, or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lampstand, so that those who enter may see the light. 17 For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light. 18 Then pay attention to how you listen; for to those who have, more will be given; and from those who do not have, even what they seem to have will be taken away.”
This passage comes immediately after Jesus told and explained the parable of the Sower and the seed. In that parable it is very clear which soil allowed the seed to grow, and which seed did not. It was not possible to hide the growing seed – it produced 100 times what was sown; nor was it possible to hide the seed that produced plants that either withered under the heat of the sun or which were choked out by thorns (weeds). The true crop will be revealed, it cannot be hidden.
Again, these are sobering words – similar to Luke 6:43-45 – that the truth of our lives will be seen, there is no way to hide the light that our lives produce. The secrets that we hide will be seen. Over the last couple of years, we have witnessed this truth being realized as the clay feet of some Christian leaders have been revealed.
It is easy to turn a passage like this into a way to condemn others who have had their secrets revealed. But vs. 18 brings it back home to us, How do we listen the word – the seed – that has been planted in us? Do we allow it to grow in us, or do we just ignore it? The promise is that if we will allow the seed to grow in us, our lives will see more crop grow in us. But if we choose not to let the seed grow, we will discover that we will lose even that which has been planted in us.
PRAYER:
God of grace, your Son, Jesus, declared that the hidden would be revealed. Shape our lives by the Holy Spirit so that what is revealed is your good word growing in us. Shape us so that our heart’s desire to live as your people is what is revealed. In Jesus’ name. Amen.