There are a lot of grumpy prime ministers and presidents in the world right now. Because the U.S. has allegedly been dropping in on their phone calls. Uninvited.
I'm not sure what all prime ministers and presidents talk about, but they obviously don't like being snooped on. But then, who does?
We keep hearing about government agencies listening in on lots of us who aren't prime anythings. Makes you feel kind of violated. Vulnerable.
Facebook can change their privacy policy, and social networks are increasingly making "personal information" an oxymoron.
With the snooping and archiving technologies of our time, it seems like there's hardly any such thing as a secret anymore.
It's troubling.
But not as troubling if you have the wonderful freedom that comes from being able to say three little words.
"Nothing to hide." Go ahead. You can listen, watch, dig up whatever you want. I'm not afraid. Not if I have nothing to hide.
Which is a good way to live, even if no one ever listens in. If I'm driving the speed limit, no worries about a police car. I don't have to look obsessively in the rear view window. I can thoroughly enjoy the view ahead. I can't get caught if there's nothing to catch.
Sometimes the Bible strikes me pretty funny. Like when it says, "The wicked man flees though no one pursues." Always looking over his shoulder, even though no one's there. Of course, on the flip side, it says, "The man of integrity walks securely." Of course he does. He's got nothing to hide.
Mark Twain said, "If you tell the truth, you don't have to remember what you said." People who just tell it straight have no fear of being caught in a lie. If you're faithful to your mate, there's no double life to be found out. No visiting porn sites - go ahead and check my emails all you want. No financial games - then no worries about someone finding the numbers don't add up.
But there's great freedom when you know there's nothing you're hiding in the dark.
Because in a world where it seems someone's always watching or listening, you never know when someone may turn on the light.
In reality, someone already has. In the Bible's words: "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).
I have no secrets from God. In fact, "God will judge men's secrets through Jesus Christ" (Romans 2:16). All the dark stuff in my heart, my mind, my relationships, my actions. All there on the evidence table when I stand defenseless before the Great Judge.
Except for one thing that changes everything. "We have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. He Himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins" (1 John 2:1-2).
God knows every sin of my life. Jesus paid for every sin of my life. With blood. On a cross. I will never have to face my sin and God's judgment. Jesus already did. Because He loves me enough to die for me. I'm amazed. I'm forgiven.
So now I can, like the Bible says, walk in the light. With nothing to hide.
