We will no doubt be shocked in that last day when everything that is hidden will be revealed. Every thought, every word, every action, every secret will be brought to light and judged. The thought of that is almost frightful.
This should be motivation enough for us to live a forgiven lifestyle and to daily repent for our hidden deeds, actions and unkind words. If I were to use computer language I would say we need to defrag our hearts and spirits on a daily basis.
As a kid, I remember that everyone seemed to have an old trunk they put valuables in for safe keeping and posterity. Often times they would put their trunk in the attic of the house. The only time they would go up and open the trunk is when they wanted to reminisce or put something else of value in the trunk. The sort of things you might find in the trunk would be the bride’s wedding gown, a lock of baby hair, an old quilt, old photos, their baby’s first pair of booties…and other such valuables. The trunk was really a biography of that family.
About fifty years ago I remember driving by an old two story house that was being torn down. I stopped because in the front yard lay the remains of an old trunk and its contents which had been thrown out of the attic window. I walked over and picked up some old metal photos. One looked to be the father and mother on their wedding day, other photos looked to be the children growing up and others may have been the grand parents. There were also other valuables from the old trunk strewn all over the yard. I put the pictures down and stood back and looked at what was once a show place of a home. I am sure in it’s day, horse drawn carriages were seen pulling up in front of that stately home, dropping off others of high society. Now…the home, the treasures in the old trunk, and the people who once lived there are nothing more than a faint memory in some old person’s mind.
We may not put natural trunks in our attics for memorabilia any more, but we do have a private place of storage called the mind. The things that were stored in the attic trunk in those days were things of pleasure and peace. The things that are stored in our mind’s attic are oftentimes un-forgiveness, anger and things that displease God. These are the things that will be revealed in the last day. Unfortunately they could have the feeling of being strewn all over our spiritual front yard for the whole world to see. That is what the word reveals means. The only things that will be forgotten will be the sins and wrongs that were confessed.
Perhaps this is a good time for all of us to clean out our trunks and ask forgiveness from God and show forgiveness to others.
Father,
Help us to fill our trunks with the memories of a blessed life. The wedding gown would symbolize when we were saved and all our sins were washed away. The lock of hair would represent when we gave up our pride for your beauty. The booties would represent the innocence of those early days of being a Christian. The old photos would depict our joy of seeing our first miracle. The old patchwork quilt symbolizes each step of our journey with you dear Lord. Father, help us to only store those things of eternal value in our memory trunk.
Amen.
Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord comes, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts. And then shall each one have praise of God. (1 Corinthians 4:5 MKJV)
Apostle John Dean Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved
Alliance International Ministries