“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the LORD. ~ Jeremiah 23:23,24
In the ancient world, idols and various “gods” were often worshiped as local deities–their attention was said to be focused only on a certain place or people. The power and presence of these so-called gods were understood to be limited. But throughout the Bible, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob shows himself to be different. The one true God, who created you and all of us, is not limited in any way.
The Lord was with Abraham as he left his home and traveled to the Promised Land. He was with Joseph in Egypt—in both the king’s prison and the king’s palace. Daniel discovered the Lord was with him in the lions’ den of Babylon. And Jonah finally understood he couldn’t hide from God when he was rescued from a certain death at sea.
But what if you want to hide from him? What if the thought of God seeing everything leaves you very uncomfortable? Perhaps your conscience is reminding you even now of things you did, said or thought were wrong. Good! We must never become comfortable with sin, trying to somehow disguise it from our Creator.
God will one day judge all people, and nothing is hidden from his sight. It does no good to try to drown out your conscience through worldly distractions or to silence God’s Word by staying away from church. That’s as ineffective as Adam and Eve trying to hide from God by crouching behind some leaves in the Garden of Eden.
But trust me, you want him to find you! This is the God who moved heaven and earth so that you could be with him. He sent his own son, Jesus Christ, to be your Substitute and Savior, removing your sins through his own sacrifice. And now you are invited to hide yourself in Jesus, taking refuge in his love. Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings (Psalm 17:8).
Repent of your attempts to run from him. Find comfort in his promises of forgiveness to all who believe.
Prayer: Lord God, I have foolishly tried to hide my sins from you. Forgive me for the sake of Jesus, your Son. Amen.
Therefore, my friends, I want you to know that through Jesus the forgiveness of sins is proclaimed to you. ~ Act 13:38
Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins. ~ Acts 2:38
If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness. ~ 1 John 1:9
Jesus Christ… loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood. ~ Revelation 1:5a,c
As far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. ~ Psalm 103:12
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