God's Secrets

Last year when the CEO of Starbucks publicly voiced his support for same-sex marriage, I made a decision not to buy any of their products again. Since then I've been at their coffee shops only when with someone who insisted on stopping by there. A few days ago I went into Starbucks with a friend who after getting his coffee handed me two cards redeemable for free downloads. One of them was for a song called “Secrets” by Mary Lambert. Recalling the singer was featured in the gay marriage anthem "Same Love", I figured her new song was something I wouldn't want to hear. Sure enough, an online search revealed the lyrics promote lesbianism. In the chorus, Mary sings...

I know I'm not the only one

Who spent so long attempting to be someone else

Well I'm over it

I don't care if the world knows what my secrets are

While other homosexuals proclaim they are “proud to be gay”, there are individuals who try to keep their sins a secret. But even if nobody else finds out what they're doing behind closed doors, heaven still has a record of it. Jesus said in Mark 4:22, “For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that it should come to light.” Man cannot keep any secrets from God.

On the other hand, God keeps secrets from man but will disclose certain things to those He is in a relationship with...

“The secret things belong to the Lord our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” - Deuteronomy 29:29

“The secret of the Lord is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.” - Psalm 25:14

“Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” - Amos 3:7

“To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.” - Matthew 13:11

God will occasionally unveil mysteries to the ungodly in order to get their attention such as the dream King Nebuchadnezzar had in Daniel chapter 2. However, some divine revelations are meant to be prayed about (especially concerning other people) and not to be shared right away. After the transfiguration, Jesus commanded Peter, James, and John, “Tell the vision to no one until the Son of Man is risen from the dead.” (Matthew 17:9). Occasionally the Lord told those He healed to keep quiet about it so it wouldn't hinder His current activities on earth.

God's secrets are available to anyone who will spend time in the “secret place” (Psalm 91:1). The question is: Can God trust you with His secrets? More importantly, are there secret sins you need to first confess to Him?

“For God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good or evil.” - Ecclesiastes 12:14

"You Never Know"

A phrase that some people use that I'm starting to find annoying is “you never know.” Occasionally I hear believers say something like, “You never know what God will do.” It must grieve the Holy Spirit to hear His people say clichés like that. The truth is we can know what God is doing if we are sensitive to His leading. Jesus said in John 16:13 that the Spirit of God “will guide you into all truth” and “will tell you things to come.”

Another often-used phrase similar to this is “God moves in mysterious ways.” Some believers quote this like it came out of the Bible. This saying actually originated from an 18th-century hymn written by William Cowper. The promises of God are not mysterious but His methods of bringing them to pass can be. As Isaiah 55:8-9 says, “‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the LORD. ‘For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.’”

It’s true that some spiritual matters remain a mystery. Deuteronomy 29:29 says, “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but those things which are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.” For example, you may not know why a certain individual died at a young age but God may choose to reveal the reason to those that need to know.

Amos 3:7 says, “Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.” God uses His people to warn the world of coming judgments. Examples include…

• Noah and the coming flood (Genesis 6:13)

• Abraham and Lot of the future destruction of Sodom (Genesis 18:17; 19:14)

• Joseph and the seven-year famine (Genesis 41:30)

• Moses and the ten plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7:1)

• Jonah and the destruction of Nineveh (Jonah 1:2; 3:4)

Sadly, some people remain ignorant of what God is doing in the earth because of listening to the wrong voices. 2 Timothy 3:6-7 mentions that in the last days there will be “gullible women loaded down with sins, led away by various lusts, always learning and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.” Every time I read this passage, I think of housewives and single mothers who constantly watch tabloid talk shows on TV, filling their minds with useless information that won’t make a positive difference in their lives.

Occasionally when I’m out evangelizing, religious folks try to tell me that nobody can know for sure if they will have eternal life. But 1 Timothy 2:4 says that God “…desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” That will happen as more of God’s people share the gospel with sinners and they respond to it by receiving salvation. Jesus said in John 8:32, “And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” But truth alone doesn’t make anyone free. It’s knowing it and then applying it in their lives.

We can know the will of God by reading our Bibles, claiming His promises, and staying in communion with Him. But we can bring negative things into our lives simply by speaking the wrong words. As Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Let’s get “you never know” out of our vocabulary. Let’s believe God will bring revelation to help us fulfill His plans and purposes on the earth.

“The Holy One has anointed you, so all of you have knowledge.” - 1 John 2:20 (GOD’S WORD Translation)