All Is Discovered

(I subscribe to Thought-For-The-Day, produced by Alan Smith. Yesterday's went right along with my post from Thursday, so I'm sharing it here. You can also go to Jeanne's Blog for even more thoughts.)

ALL IS DISCOVERED

Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was not only the creator of Sherlock Holmes, but apparently, he was a creative practical joker, too. The story is told of one horrendous - although clever - practical joke that he played one time. He just wrote a short, unsigned telegram - all in fun - to 12 of the best known men in England. The anonymous message was the same - only six words - six scary words, "All is discovered. Flee at once."

As the story goes, within 24 hours not one of those men could be found.

I don't know if that really happened, but I wouldn't be surprised if it did because almost everyone carries the burden of knowing they've done something in the past that they're ashamed of. One of the first things we do when we commit a sin is to try to hide (that's what Adam and Eve did!). And we will often go to great lengths to hide that part of our lives from everyone around else. The more we hide, the more the feelings of guilt grow and the greater we feel the need to hide.

Psalm 139 is a beautiful psalm where David acknowledges that God knows everything about us. He knows our words. He knows our every thought. There is no need to hide from God. There is no way to hide from God. And it is only when we realize that, and are honest about those pieces of our lives that we try to hide that we can come to know forgiveness (and the peace that comes with it).

Let us say with David, "For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is always before you." (Psalm 51:3)

All is discovered -- it always has been. And there is a need to flee at once -- to the arms of God.

Have a great day!

Alan Smith
Helen Street Church of Christ
Fayetteville, North Carolina

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