FROM CONCEALED TO REVEALED
by
Pastor Rick Sams
I remember studying a window in college, not the kind you can
look out, but one you could look in to the human heart. The class was
Social Psychology. The 4-paned "Jaohari Window illustrates 4 areas
of our lives. Pane 1 is our Public Self: what we know about ourselves, and
so does everyone else. Pane 2 represents our Blind Spots: what others
know, but we don�t seem to see. Pane 3 is our Secret Self: what we know,
but no one else does. Pane 4 is our Subconscious Self known only to
God.
I believe pane 4 was David�s focus in his Psalm 139:23-24 prayer:
"Search me O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.
See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way
everlasting. David knew there were hidden things in his life that were
messing up his ability to experience life the way God intends it, AND the way we
want it. These hidden things can be sins or human weaknesses.
Paul
is also praying about the polluting effects of pane 4 in his poignant plea: "I
do not understand what I do. For what I want to do I do not do, but what I
hate I do (Romans 7:15).
This subconscious stuff obviously
exists. How else to you explain the irrational stuff we do that we know
will hurt us and others, but we do it anyway? We know we�ll get caught,
but we do it anyway? We know these sins never deliver on their promises of
real life and happiness, but we do them anyway.
The wise Plato said:
"Happy is the man who has nothing to hide. An architect offered to build a
house for him in which every room would be hidden from public view.
Instead he told the architect: "I will pay you twice the money if you build me a
house into every room of which all men�s eyes can see. These great men
knew panes 3 and 4 cause great pain. They realized the stuff we conceal
will eventually be revealed. Jesus said the same (Luke 12:2-3; Numbers
32:23).
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle not only created Sherlock Holms, he was
also a creative practical joker. Once he anonymously wrote ten of
England�s leading men a six word telegram: "All is discovered. Flee at
once. Within 24 hours not one of them could be found: fugitives of their
own minds and making.
For the dark stuff we know about, but hide, we need
to confess, to God and to others. James clearly taught the latter when he
said: "Pray for one another and confess your sins to one another so you may be
healed (James 5:16).
For the junk buried so deep we don�t
understand it, we need the Psalm 139 prayer. That�s why David and Paul
prayed for God to reveal the hidden hindrances to experiencing the life abundant
Jesus promised (John 10:10). How about you?