“And no creature is hidden from God, but everything is naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must render an account” (Hebrews 4:13 NET).
The Biblical book of Ezekiel offers a true-to-life illustration of Hebrews 4:13 as God exposed the “thoughts and intents” (Hebrews 4:12) that defined the people of Ezekiel’s day…
“He brought me to the north gate of the Lord’s Temple, and some women were sitting there, weeping for the god Tammuz” (Ezekiel 8:14 NLT).
Tammuz was an ancient pagan deity who allegedly underwent an annual death and rebirth. These women were presumably weeping over his passing, but there was more to come…
“‘Have you seen this?’ he asked. ‘But I will show you even more detestable sins than these!’
Then he brought me into the inner courtyard of the Lord’s Temple. At the entrance to the sanctuary, between the entry room and the bronze altar, there were about twenty-five men with their backs to the sanctuary of the Lord. They were facing east, bowing low to the ground, worshiping the sun!” (Ezekiel 8:15-16 NLT).
The “inner courtyard of the Temple” suggests that this meeting comprised a group of spiritual leaders who had turned their backs on God. However, these things had not escaped God’s notice…
“‘Have you seen this, son of man?’ he asked. ‘Is it nothing to the people of Judah that they commit these detestable sins, leading the whole nation into violence, thumbing their noses at me, and provoking my anger? Therefore, I will respond in fury. I will neither pity nor spare them. And though they cry for mercy, I will not listen'” (Ezekiel 8:16-18 NLT).
This illustrates what God is capable of observing as He looks into the hearts and minds of individual human beings. While an outside observer may not have detected such issues, God saw the truth concerning these behaviors with absolute clarity. Perhaps this is why 1 Corinthians 3:13 offers an important reminder for those who self-identify with Christ…
“…the quality of each person’s work will be seen when the Day of Christ exposes it. For on that Day fire will reveal everyone’s work; the fire will test it and show its real quality” (GNT).
Finally, there is an ancient maxim that tells us, “Honesty is the best policy.” In light of these passages, we would be wise to adopt that policy regarding ourselves for, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”