Hide and Seek

 

The game of Hide & Seek is a hallmark of childhood in America. From the earliest days when a young child thinks that closing their eyes will "hide" them from view, all the way up through the years of more clever forms of hiding, children enjoy the thrill of the hunt and the thrill of being hunted. One of my kids' favorite hunts was the annual Easter Egg hunt. In our community, it was actually mostly candy strewn in the shaggy, not-yet-mown, spring grass, but there were also a handful of colorful plastic eggs that held the wonder of money or a free admission to the local theatre. 

There are other forms of hiding kids often display. Like the daughter who would sneak into the candy jar of tootsie rolls and leave tell-tale teeth marks because she was too young to know enough to unwrap the candy. (After summer parades, that jar was a huge temptation!). Or another child who for some reason decided to hide a key fob at the bottom of a silk flower arrangement. We looked high and low to no avail. Not long after buying a replacement, an older sibling stumbled across the keys (and the guilty child confessed he had done it because he was unhappy about something). But hidden things aren't as hard to deal with as hidden hearts. Like when a child hides away instead of facing up to a guilty deed (such as writing on the wall, breaking a lamp, hitting a sibling, or some other form of disobedience). 

The First Game of Hide and Seek

That compulsion to hide when guilty started in the Garden of Eden. After Eve and Adam had both eaten of the fruit that God had warned them not to eat, Genesis 3:8 describes what happened next:

"And they heard the sound of the Lord walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the Lord among the trees of the garden." 

The omniscient God sought them out and then in verse 9, the Lord called to them and asked where they were.  It's not that God didn't know, but rather Adam and Eve were given the opportunity to confess their disobedience. Instead of coming clean, however, it turned into a blame game: Adam blaming Eve and Eve blaming the serpent. How often do we hide from responsibility just like they did?  How often do we foolishly hide from a Father who knows every action and thought we have ever done? And even with that knowledge, He continually seeks us out, drawing us back to Himself. 

The whole of the new Old Testament is a long narrative of Israel obeying for a time and then disobeying and "hiding" themselves from their God. Yet through all of Israel's unfaithfulness, God continued to seek them out in order to restore them to Himself.  And when the time was right, Jesus, as God incarnate, came in human form to seek out the lost. 

Jesus, the Master Seeker

One of the most poignant illustrations of a Father waiting to welcome home a wayward son is the parable of the Prodigal Son. The son was lured away from his home by the charms of the world. As his life was hidden from his earthly father, he sank into despair, soon realizing that even his father's pigs ate better than he did. Seeking to beg for mercy and hoping he could be welcomed back as a servant, he was shocked to find His Father not only waiting for Him, but celebrating his return.

When we humble ourselves before the Father, He welcomes us and forgives the wrongs that kept us separated from Him. He is ready and willing to bring wayward souls back into fellowship with Himself.  One of my favorite songs that recounts this parable is the Prodigal Son Suite by Keith Green. If you haven't heard it, I encourage you to listen and consider the ways you may have strayed in your own life and then remember how much the Father delights every time we turn our hearts back to Him (Note: the song has a lengthy introduction, but the words are worth the wait.)

Easter is all about a loving Father who sent His son to seek and to save the lost.  Romans 5:8 tell us, "but God shows His love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." While we were stuck in our own shame, when we had nothing to recommend us, nothing to admire in us, God in His infinite mercy, provided for the means of our cleansing.

All of us have been wayward at one time or another. Perhaps not toward an earthly father, but most certainly toward our Heavenly Father. If you've already been found by Him, rejoice that your life is now hidden with Christ in the heavenly realms as Colossians 3:3 promises, "For you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God."  That inheritance is described in 1 Peter 1:4 as, "an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you."

And now it's your turn to do the seeking. To place Christ as first in your heart and life. As the cares of the world in all its forms swirl around us and we feel crushed under the anxiety of it all, Christ lovingly instructs us:

"Do not worry then, saying, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will we drink?' or 'What will we wear for clothing?' For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things; for your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But seek first His kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.'" Matthew 6:31-33 (ESV)

As we seek first the Lord, those three questions take on new meaning. To the question, "What will we eat?" comes Jesus' answer, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes out of the mouth of God."  To the question, "What will we drink?" the answer is supplied in 1 Peter 2:2, "Like newborn infants, long for the pure spiritual milk, that by it you may grow up into salvation." And to the question, "What will we wear for clothing?" according to Romans 13:14, believers are to "put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh to gratify its desires." 

When we come to Christ, He exchanges the filthy rags of our sin for His own righteousness that covers us. He redeems and clothes us and through His Spirit, gives us the power to become like Him as we continue to seek Him first.

Seek Him While He May Be Found

When our earthly days are done, the game of Hide & Seek will be over. Isaiah 55:6 warns, "Seek the Lord while He may be found; call upon Him while He is near." While you still have breath, ask the Lord Jesus to cover your sin for according to Hebrews 9:27, "It is appointed for man to die once, and after that comes judgment." Choose now to follow Him while there is still time. More than anything, I pray this Easter, that Galatians 2:20 would be true for you: 

"I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loves me and gave himself for me."

May the Risen Christ

 Reign in Your Heart this Easter!