My Dear Friend, 

Inescapable" best describes the situation of those who try to hide their sins from God. The Bible uses the sun as a metaphor to teach us this vital lesson.

Of the sun’s wilting heat, the Psalmist observes, “There is nothing hidden from the heat thereof” (Psalm 19:6). Or, “Nothing can hide from its heat” (NLT). This solar truth is also a Son truth. Jesus is the “Sun of righteousness” whose rays of light and heat can burn (Malachi 4:1) or bless (Malachi 4:2). Whichever "ministry" of the Sun of Rightousness we choose, this vital spiritual truth remains: there is no escape from the heat of His conviction. Many, doubting this, have had to learn it the hard way.

Achan felt very safe after hiding the gold and garments he illegally took from Jericho—until the Holy Spirit revealed to Joshua, a type of Christ, his covetous misdeed. Gehazi also must have felt triumphant when he seemed to have successfully taken from Naaman the rewards Elisha refused—until the seer told him he had seen the whole thing. Even Judas must have felt secure after secretly cutting his deal with the Jewish leaders to betray Jesus—until Jesus, having announced His impending betrayal, slowly gazed around the table at His apostles' faces and then quietly turned and put the sop squarely in Judas’ trembling hands.

Saul of Tarsus apparently thought staying very busy serving Yahweh would cure his inner guilt over pitilessly harassing and killing Christians—until the blazing Sun of Righteousness met him near Damascus. Joseph’s brothers tried to suppress their gnawing guilt over enslaving their brother and lying to their father—until the Sun sent a famine that led them straight to a strange-looking Egyptian “governor” who, even stranger, insisted on accusing them of being liars. Balaam tried to convince himself it was okay to disobey God’s inner voice—until he saw the Sun’s mighty angel standing before him with sword drawn and no way of escape.

Abraham and Isaac each justified their “white lies” to Abimelech about their wives—until the Sun enlightened the pagan ruler and he rebuked his redeemed guests. David apparently thought his sin against Uriah was as dead and buried as Uriah was—until the Sun resurrected the issue by sending Nathan with the shocking words, “Thou art the man!”

The same has been true with every criminal and gangster throughout history. They eventually discovered they could evade the law's detection but could not escape the Lord's conviction. The faces and voices of those they harmed harassed them every day and haunted them every night. No matter how deeply they indulged themselves with pleasures or possessions, they could not find peace.

Have we, my fellow Christians, learned that the Sun of righteousness’ heat is inescapable? If so, there are two ways we should work out what this message is working in us.

First, if someone has wronged us and not acknowledged it, we should restfully understand they cannot evade the Sun’s heat: "Fear them not, therefore; for there is nothing covered that shall not be revealed; and hidden that shall not be known" (Matthew 10:26). Instead of pouting over our wounds, we should pray they will wilt under the Sun's conviction and repent, honoring Him and reconciling with us.

Second, if we have sinned and are feeling the Sun’s heat, we should not try to outwork, outrun, or suppress it. Nor should we try to justify it in our minds. Or re-bury it in our subconscious mind every time it resurrects itself in our thoughts. Instead we should go straight to the Sun with a confession (1 John 1:9) and anyone we have offended with an apology (Matthew 5:23-24). Immediately, forgiveness, cleansing, and reconciliation will be ours ... and that elusive blessing, peace!

Then the same Sun that was burning us will bless us. Instead of suffering His burning heat, we will stand and bask and walk and grow in His warm presence.

Standing in the Sun,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries