Hiding behind the post

The warm days of spring are finally coming here in the greater Boston area. Everyone is emerging from their winter domains and enjoying the cool breeze, the warm sun, and the fresh smell. Children especially seem to relish being able to go “free” after being cooped up for so long.

The other day I saw one such little boy dawdling along. In his hands he was holding several of the snow sticks that are scattered around our apartment complex. When the snow comes down in flurries we have backhoes that come and clear our parking lots and pile the snow up high onto the grass median. The sticks give them guidance so they don’t run over the curbs.

I didn’t think anything of it as I saw him stop to pick up another stick. That is, until he looked up and saw me watching him from my car. He instantly froze, his eyes got big and round, and he slowly took his hand off the stick and then proceeded to walk behind the apartment post and “hide” from me. I just had to laugh as I could still see half of his body sticking out–and most comically the poles were clearly seen on either side of the post. He wasn’t doing the best job of trying to hide his offense!

Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do. – Hebrews 4:13

This little boy gave me a smile for the rest of the day. I didn’t go over and get after him–I figured his guilty conscious was probably going to do that enough. My smile disappeared, however, when that still small voice said, “That child is you.”

As adults we laugh at the antics of children–not realizing how often we are doing the exact same thing in our own life. How many times do we sin and then try to hide it? Trying to hide sin is about as ridiculous as that little boy trying to hide those long poles behind a one foot post. Usually our sin is much more apparent to others than we realize–and there is nothing that is hidden from God.

What sins are you trying to hide? Perhaps it’s time to put down the snow sticks, repent, and quit looking so silly!

Copyright © Nicole Elliott, Moms of Faith, All Rights Reserved