Hebrews 4:13

"... 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 are not many things I'm really good at, but one for sure is my master disguise at covering what's really scurrying around in my mind and heart. I've never been one to 'wear my emotions on my sleeves', so to speak, although I can get emotional at times. I can keep my mouth shut because I often don't have much to say in spite of the fact I have much to think. So it's been said of me (I know, because people tell me), 'I wonder what Tom's thinking. When he does say something I better listen because fewer words project from his mouth than others.' Sounds haughty and prideful. Yes, it is at times, shamefully so. 'Still waters run deep', and O' how deep those waters are. The Marianna's Trench pales in comparison.

But how many fathoms must I plummet until I've escaped the omniscience of the Almighty? I'm afraid there's no where to go, no where to hide (cf. Psalm 139:7-8) to fully cocoon my heart. I believe Abraham Lincoln once said, 'You can fool all of the people some of the time, and some of the people all of the time. But you cannot fool all of the people all of the time.' That's for sure. There's no fooling the One who cannot be fooled.

I've also been told that mankind's greatest fear is swimming stranded in an open ocean constantly and consciously pondering what's lurking around those morsels of dangling feet that appeal to an empty stomach of a creature that finds water as relaxing as we find air. This is even more frightening than our prideful desire to avoid the risk of humiliation in a public speech. Perhaps I might feel differently if I actually found myself in such a lonesome place of isolation, but that's not my greatest fear. Mine is the reality of the writer of Hebrews' statement of truth that I bear naked before God, even fully clothed and even scheming to shelter my psyche all to no avail. And not only am I laid bare before His eyes, but I must give an account. What will I say? What can I possibly say that would appease Him? Head bowed low, tears streaming from my face, fearful of what the Almighty might do, I fall to my knees and say, 'I'm so sorry. Guilty as charged. Do with me as You please.' He looks down, love in one hand and compassion in the other, and says, 'Forgiven, paid for in full. Come into my everlasting rest.'

I'm still quite afraid, but I'm also quite assured. May my fear motivate me, and may His love secure me.