Concealing The Word Of God

CONCEALING THE WORD OF GOD

"For I have not concealed the words of the Holy One." (Job 6:10b)

"Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost has made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he has purchased with his own blood." (Acts 20:28)

It is very good to openly and boldly maintain a profession of attachment to the cause of God; He will reveal the knowledge of His truth to us , but if we refuse to acknowledge the truth in our lives and inform others as well, our loyalty to God need to be questioned. To hide the divine words of truth would be a great sin against the Most High God.

HOW DO WE CONCEAL THE WORD OF GOD?

1. WE CAN CONCEAL THESE WORDS FROM OURSELVES

We do this when we will not permit this word to search our own heart and ways--when we conceal the Gospel, and go about to find out some way of our own for self-salvation. We should hide the Gospel in our heart (Psalm 119:11), but not from our heart.

We conceal it when we do not receive the whole of revelation, but pick and choose out portions of it; accepting half the truth and rejecting the rest. Some professors have favorite texts and choice portions of Scripture, and they regard other parts of the word with aversion, avoiding them as much as possible, because they do not agree with their system of divinity, and need much squaring before they will fit in with their foregone conclusions. They do not read such passages, or read them carelessly and will impute another meaning than the true one to the words of God. It is written that, "All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16)

The law of God speaks with a searching and threatening voice: it tells us about our sin, it forewarns us about the punishment, and it places our danger both present and future before our mind’s eye: but there are thousands of people who never give the law an opportunity of being heard in their hearts: they turn a deaf ear to anything which is unpleasant to them; they do not like to face the honest truth.

Don't avoid the word of God's command nor select the convenient ones. Some Christians object to the teaching of Christ where he says, "But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. " (Matthew 5 :39). This precept is being denounced as impractical, and it is asserted that it cannot be carried out. "Doing to others as you would have them do to you"(Matthew 7:12) is regarded as a golden precept for other people to practice towards our dear selves, but not at all a practical maxim from us to the general public. When people speak of our Lord’s precepts as good but impractical, they make him out to be an amiable simpleton. Is this their reverence for the incarnate wisdom?

It is written, “He who knew his Master’s will, and did not do it, shall be beaten with many stripes”( Luke 12:47) ; and, notice that he who did not know his Master’s will, but might have known it and deliberately declined to know it, shall take his place with those who bear the heavier punishment.. Try to know what God would have you do, and pray that by his Holy Spirit when you know it, you may put it into speedy and cheerful practice, and this shall be a comfort to you.

Do not put out the only light which can lead you to eternal life. Do not shut your eyes to the divine lamp; do not conceal from yourselves those humbling but yet soul-saving doctrines, which make eternal peace for your souls. It is a foolish thing to conceal the words of the Almighty God from our conscience, and so flatter our soul into destruction.

2. WE CAN CONCEAL THE WORDS OF GOD BY NOT CONFESSING THE TRUTH AT ALL

Let us reveal our true identity, profess your Christian faith in deeds and words. A Christian can be known by his fruits(Matthew 7:16). "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven." (Matthew 10:32-33)

Do not run risks upon that score. If you love the Lord, say so; if you expect him to acknowledge you, acknowledge him.

3. OUR SILENCE CAN CONCEAL GOD'S WORD

We conceal these words by a sinful silence after confession of the truth. It is good to know the word and truth of God, but don't draw a veil over them by not revealing them. Apostle Paul acquitted himself to the church of Ephesus, and said that "For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God" (Acts 20:27) "and I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shown you, and have taught you publicly, and from house to house" (Acts 20:20).