A very simple thought and one that we, for the most part, are very familiar with: God desires us to be transparent with Him; to not hide or hold back any part of ourselves from Him. The things we try to hide from Him create walls and barriers in our relationship, not only with Him but with others as well.
Psalm 51:6
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. KJV
Inward parts – seat of the mind and thoughts
Hidden part – the most secret part
To know – perceive, acquire knowledge
Wisdom – wisdom/skill
Jesus desires us to be truthful with Him, right from the very center of our being.
Luke 18:9-14
And He spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortionist, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in a week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes to heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for everyone that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.
We often recognize this passage of scripture as a lesson of humility and arrogance. But, looking a little deeper we realize there’s more to it than that. The publican didn’t try to hide the fact that he was a sinner, he made no excuse or attempt to mask his true identity. The Pharisee, instead of dealing with what he really was, looked for faults in others to point out. He tried to hide what was really in his heart by attempting to only show certain parts. So, he wasn’t an adulterer. Perhaps he was trying to justify his own immoral thoughts about women, by saying at least he didn’t commit the act of adultery. Bottom line, he was trying to hide parts of himself. The publican freely expressed, without excuse, “this is me”.
A personal example is when I was a teenager there were a couple of moments I specifically remember wanting to hit my mom. Now both of my brothers had actually tried to and it did not end well for them. If I were the Pharisee in the above story, I would have said something like, “God, I’ve never hit my mom, I honor my parents.” If you look at just the surface, then this appears true. But, the fact is, the truth in the hidden parts was that I was so angry at my mom, I thought I hated her. I probably even said so in my own head. I remember visualizing what it would be like to hit her. If I were the publican in the story, I would have said, “oh God! Forgive me from these terrible thoughts!”
(Just fyi, my mom and I have a great relationship. I’m so thankful. That teenage frustration against a parent is long gone.)
Proverbs 20:27
The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly. KJV
Spirit – the Spirit of God imparting life and wisdom
Candle – a figurative lamp
Searching – to seek out
Inward parts – a chamber, innermost
Belly – the hollow, empty
It’s not as if God doesn’t already know everything about us, because truly He does. The life giving spirit, our breath that comes from God; the Bible says acts like a lamp into our very innermost part and searches us.
Genesis 3:7-10
And the eyes of them both were opened, and they knew that they were naked; and they sewed fig leaves together, and made themselves aprons. And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself.
Did not God already know that Adam and Eve were naked? It’s not as if it was news to Him like it was to them. It’s not that God doesn’t already know everything about us; but it’s about how we share or hide ourselves from Him. In Adam’s case, it says he was afraid and hid himself. We have no need to fear. If our secrets are safe in anyone’s ears, it’s God’s. It’s not that He doesn’t already know all about us. But He desires that we share ourselves with Him, to be honest with Him about who we truly are, in the innermost part of our being, that part perhaps no one else knows about it.
I often pray, and hope it never changes; “oh God search me and know me, don’t let there be any part of me that I hold back from you. If there’s a part of me that I’m with holding, please show me so that I can confess and make things right again. Truly, You desire truth from the inside out.” I’ve memorized portions of this scripture and incorporate it into my prayers.
Psalm 139
O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.
Last thought I want to leave with you tonight. According to online dictionary:
Transparent: 1. Allowing light to pass through so that objects behind can be distinctly seen. (transparent with others)
2. Easy to perceive or detect. (transparent with God)