Compassion for those who have been exposed by the Ashley Madison hack has been in short supply. There has been a lot of "they got what they deserved," even though the innocent spouses, children and family members deserved nothing of the sort.
But the truth is, we all have secrets! How would you feel if your most personal details were exposed? What if your deeply-held secrets were published on a searchable database? Yet as uncomfortable as that sounds, the Bible is clear that one day the private secrets of all people who have ever lived are going to be revealed.
The Bible says, "Fear God and give Him glory, for the hour of His judgment is come." Revelation 14:7. And Daniel 7:10 states, "...the judgment was set, and the books were open."
The Books of Record that contain the deeds and misdeeds of every person (good or evil) will one day be opened. As Solomon wrote in Holy Scripture, "God will bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it is good, or whether it be evil." Ecclesiastes 12:14.
While many are trying to figure out how to handle the damage caused to their reputations, God offers every person a simple remedy. Acts 3:19 states, "Repent and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the Lord."
In the judgment that precedes Jesus' return, the sins of those who have faith in God will be blotted out. When the Books are opened, their pages are clear rather than stained by sin. In place of sin is purity and righteousness. The grace that forgives is the grace that cleanses, and in the judgment the redeemed are found to be white as snow (Isaiah 1:18).
The woman taken in adultery repented for her sin and heard Jesus say, "neither do I condemn you" John 8:11
Repentance opens the door to the cleansing power of God. Grace does not justify sinful behavior, but it does justify the sinner.
God sees the hearts of all, and He does so without condemnation. King David wrote that God "knows our frame, He remembers that we are only dust" Psalm 103:14, and God loves us anyway.
Holy Scripture promises that "if we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness" 1 John 1:9.
We all have secrets. What shouldn't be a secret is that God is able to cleanse and heal, remake, restore, forgive. The reality of the judgment isn't only that sinners will be judged, but that sinners - when they repent - are forgiven! God offers that hope to all sinners everywhere.
Original Blog by John Bradshaw, August 31, 2015. blog.itiswritten.com
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