Bill Clinton was once the most powerful man in the world. As president of the United States (the then-global leader), he was commander-in-chief of a massive military empire. That military might was obligated to go to war on his command. Most of the world still used US dollars as the primary trading currency, making his nation the global financial leader. As president, he could indirectly control monetary policy and choose the trade deals he and his government wrought, therefore having a direct impact on the rise and fall of nations. From all perspectives, God had positioned Bill Clinton in a role of enormous power – perhaps more so than any in the history of the world.
Yet that could not stop his downfall. The long married Mr. Clinton could not restrain himself from an inappropriate relationship with a 22 year old intern named Monica. There is no doubt that president Clinton did not want any of that information – especially what he said and did – made public. But a few years later, the scandal broke anyway. Those of us who were reading the news at the time know that the things president Clinton said and did in the inner chambers of the White House wound up reported all over the world. In spite of a personal policy of denying the truth, the truth came out. The most powerful man in the world could not keep a secret, secret.
Jesus said, “There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known.” Mr. Clinton’s downfall is only a very small prelude – nothing more than a single foreshadow – of the things that will be made known. Every crooked deal, every planned lie, every ‘secret’ order given behind closed doors in government, business and affinity party doors – they will all be revealed. They will all be made known, just as everyone in the world knows what Bill Clinton did back in the mid-1990’s.
The immediate implication (from the context of Matthew 10) is that Jesus’ followers never need fear that the injustices handed to us will be kept secret. Many a Christian hauled away in the middle of the night and tried during the dawn hours (as Jesus was) fear that their difficulty and pain will forever be kept from the world, their death therefore being in vain. That is simply not true.
The persecution and hardships endured by God’s people will eventually be something that the whole world knows. Perhaps because God will exalt those who suffer for His Name, and that exaltation will be front-page news as He sets up His physical Kingdom. We Christians must therefore realize that if God so deals with the things people have said in the dark – when they are prompted by demons – how much more will God make known what He prompted us to say (and do) by His Spirit? To this point Jesus says, “What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs.”
This is not only a command to preach fearlessly, and to witness no matter the imposed threat. It is an encouragement to share what He speaks as He prompts. For one day all the world will see and know just how much we have been obedient (or not).
Amen.
Comfort and prosperity have never enriched the world as much as adversity has.
Billy Graham
APPLICATION: Intentionality
There are no secrets from God. One day all we are and all we are not will be revealed. Therefore let us ensure that we shall not be disappointed on the day the Lord gives us our recompense.