For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. (Luke 8:17, NIV)

 

To try to live in secrecy before God, man, and yourself is to live in darkness. That is not how God made us. We were made to be fully known. We were made to be open and vulnerable. It’s only in the place of living fully known that we can truly receive the depths of God’s love for us. It’s only in being fully known that we discover who we really are and the extent of our need for God.

 

Our culture values perception above reality. We work tirelessly to create an image of perfection in the minds of others that requires a constant covering-up of who we truly are. We work to build up a facade, in an attempt to keep in darkness that which we fear will cause rejection. But the greater our facade the less we are truly loved. When someone loves an image we’ve created, that we know isn’t truly us, we can’t receive that love. When someone compliments the image of perfection we’ve worked to create, we are all the time thinking, “If you only knew who I really was, you wouldn’t be saying those things.” To be fully loved is to be fully known.

 

The sobering truth of Scripture is that God already knows the secrets of our hearts and will one day bring them out into the light whether we desire it or not. Hebrews 4:13 says, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (NIV). Again, Luke 8:17 tells us, “For nothing is concealed that will not become evident, nor anything hidden that will not be known and come to light” (NASB). God knows the importance of everything being brought to the light. His chief desire is to have full relationship with us, and He knows full relationship only occurs without secrets.

 

While God knows the secrets of our hearts already, we will not receive the fullness of His love here on earth until we willingly open them up to Him. To know that we are fully known and still fully loved allows us to stop hiding. It allows us to stop being defensive or making excuses for our behavior. God patiently waits for us to make ourselves fully known to Him, all the while beckoning us with His loving-kindness. He declares His good nature to us through Scripture, circumstances, and His Spirit, as He knocks on the door of our hearts that we might let Him in to love us, heal us, and set us free.

 

Take time today to open your life to God, and with His help, begin tearing down whatever facade you’ve built up. Engage in the process of offering up the parts of your heart you’ve never wanted to bring to the light. Tell Him of your secrets. Make some space to reflect on your life. What do you work so tirelessly to keep in the dark? What thoughts, motives, or wounds do you constantly try and hide? Trust that your God is good. He already knows the secrets of your life. He will not reject you. He is not disgusted with you or ashamed of you. He simply wants to fully love you. May you experience the love of your heavenly Father to greater measure as you seek to be fully known.