Posted April 14, 2016 under Blog

Unmasked

Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable.

Hebrews 4:13

Have you ever been conned by a con man?

When I saw this poor old man, I felt so sorry for him. This frail, seemingly helpless, emaciated guy was clutching his side, and slowly making his way up Julia Vargas Avenue.

Acting on impulse, I got out of my car and let him ride with me so I could take him nearer to his destination. (Fortunately, I had a driver with me.)

He then unraveled a tale of how he was diagnosed with a terminal illness, and how he was about to meet a friend who promised him some money. The amount was not for him, but for his kids. He desperately needed to buy bus tickets for his children and take them to the province, so his sister could take care of them when he died.

Unfortunately, his friend never showed up. He showed me lab results, and pictures of his 3 kids which he had in his bag.

I was so moved by his sad story that I thought, This man needs to know Jesus! I have to help him!! We parked on the side, and Manny (who was driving) prayed with him. This man closed his eyes, and repeated the prayer that Manny prayed for him.

I gave him some of my personal money to help him buy bus tickets for his family, and went my way, sad but happy.

Weeks later, we received a text message from his sister, informing us that he had died, and grateful for my help to her brother.

Almost a year after, our family friend Benjo excitedly told us an interesting story of how he had been a good Samaritan. . .

He was driving down Makati Avenue, when out of the corner of his eye, he saw this poor, old, seemingly helpless, emaciated man, clutching the side and walking along the road. . .

!!!!!

Believe it or not, we were conned by the same guy!

He looked the part, said the right words, and acted so convincingly that we fell for it. To think the man even had the audacity to text us via his sister that he had already died!

And now its election season in my nation. There are too many candidates, and too many promises. There are accusations and counter-accusations. There are debates, smoke screens, intimidations and cover-ups.

Who is telling the truth? Who is telling lies? Who is leading a double life? Who is so used to telling a lie so convincingly, that he even fools himself?

This is a time I am grateful that there is a Sovereign God who cannot be fooled. There is no get-away for con men, because in the end, God will get them. He cannot be silenced, nor bought by charitable donations or good works.

1. God is not blind.

The Bible is filled with reminders:

Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?" declares the LORD. "Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD.

Jeremiah 23: 24

My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from me, nor is their sin concealed from my eyes.

Jeremiah 16: 17

The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.

Proverbs 15: 3

Before a word is on my tongue you, LORD, know it completely.

Psalm 139: 4

For your ways are in full view of the LORD, and he examines all your paths.

Proverbs 5: 21

2. Devoted Things are not to be touched.

In the book of Joshua, God gave specific instructions to the people not to steal or keep for personal gain what wasnt theirs to keep.

But keep away from the devoted things, so that you will not bring about your own destruction by taking any of them. Otherwise you will make the camp of Israel liable to destruction and bring trouble on it.Joshua 6:18

But Achan, one of the guys, disobeyed Gods orders and chose to keep what wasnt his. Heres a bible verse about hidden wealth:

Among the plunder I saw a beautiful robe from Babylon, 200 silver coins, and a bar of gold weighing more than a pound. I wanted them so much that I took them. They are hidden in the ground beneath my tent, with the silver buried deeper than the rest.

Joshua 7: 21

Who is touching the things he shouldnt touch? Who is having relationships that he shouldnt be having?

3. God can track a Family tree.

Not only is the guilty punished, but his sin affects his family line as well as the nation.

But Israel violated the instructions about the things set apart for the LORD. A man named Achan had stolen some of these dedicated things, so the LORD was very angry with the Israelites. Achan was the son of Carmi, a descendant of Zimri son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah.

Joshua 7:1 NLT

This true account is sad and scary at the same time. No sin goes unpunished. What we do, no matter how hidden, will have consequences that affect the people we love, as well as the nation we live in.

Not only did God expose Achan, his family members were destroyed. Instead of enjoying their lives, Achans family ended up badly, young and old. Check out what happens by reading Joshua chapter 7:

Standing before God, we are all unmasked. We are all exposed. I am exposed for the sinner that I am. So are you. So are all our candidates.

May this fearful revelation make us stop in our tracks from doing evil, and choose to live right before God, not just in words, but in truth and action.

Teach me your ways, O LORD, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.

Psalm 86: 11

For a mans ways are before the eyes of the LORD, and he ponders all his paths. The iniquities of the wicked ensnare him, and he is held fast in the cords of his sin. He dies for lack of discipline, and because of his great folly he is led astray.

Proverbs 5: 21-23

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