“All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him.”    Hebrews 4:13

God knows all things that are, have been, and will be. There are no secrets from Him. Those things that we have kept from all others are not kept from Him. This is (and should be) both convicting and comforting. Convicting because our lives are an open book and “all our iniquities are set before Him” and comforting because those same sins He sees are paid for on the cross of Jesus Christ. How wonderful it is to know that He sees all we have done and will do, yet covers those sins with Christ’s blood.

John Newton, the ex-slave trader and writer of Amazing Grace, once said that there were two things about Christianity that stood out to him. He said, “I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.”  What wonderful words.  That we are sinners is convicting, that Christ is a great Savior is comforting. Newton summarized the gospel in that one short sentence.  It is a wonder that God can see the deepest, darkest parts of our lives, but yet still loves us and reaches out with a hand of mercy.  However, we need to be cautious that we don’t allow God’s great comfort to blind us to conviction. We can’t continue in great sin comfortably just because God is the Great Forgiver.  It is true that God is merciful, but He is also just.  A just God cannot ignore sin, so we must not wave the comfort card every time we feel conviction in our hearts.  A shallow apology that follows sin and precedes the same sin is not the right response to conviction.

If we believe that God sees all things and that He sent Christ to atone for our sins it should affect the way we walk.  If we don’t live lives that show comfort and conviction, we should do one of two things. First, We should check our hearts to see if we have truly accepted the life, death, burial, and resurrection of Christ on our behalf. In other words, we need to ask if we have stepped from death to life by believing on the Lord Jesus Christ. If not, we need to do so, “for today is the appointed time.”  If we continue in sin without concern, we might have to ask ourselves if the One who convicts (the Holy Spirit) dwells in us. If He does, He will not allow us to be involved in constant sin without repercussions.  We certainly tend to evaluate others in that way.  “How could that person be a Christian?” is a phrase that is often heard about someone who is living contrary to the Word.  If we abridge God’s Word constantly and consistently, we should examine ourselves at least to the same degree that we examine others.

On the other hand, if we have made a heartfelt decision for Christ, but still lead a unconvicted, uncomforted life, we need to bring our lives into alignment with Christ. If we don’t, we might still have eternal life, but we will not have a peaceful life and will have to face the natural consequences
of our actions. Those who accept Christ and think they can live like the devil do not understand the wonderful eminence of God. God accompanies us, seeing, hearing, and knowing all we do. If we drag Him into sinful places, sinful acts, and sinful speech, it would seem as though we don’t believe He is the omniscient, omnipresent God.   But He is. In Jeremiah 23:24 God asks us, “Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth?”  The answers are no and yes, in that order.  When we walk through our day we should walk as though God is with us; because He is.

A well-known professional golfer was playing in a tournament with President Gerald Ford, fellow pro Jack Nicklaus, and Billy Graham. Afterwards, one of the other pros asked what it was like playing with that elite group. The pro said with disgust, “I don’t need Billy Graham stuffing religion down my throat!” With that he headed for the practice tee. After the golfer had pounded out his fury on a bucket of golf balls, his friend asked, “Was Billy a little rough on you out there?” The pro sighed and said with embarrassment, “No, he didn’t even mention religion.” Billy Graham had said nothing about religion, yet the pro felt an overwhelming guilt.  This man felt conviction, not because of what Billy Graham said, but because of what the golfer felt in his own heart.

If we have the Holy Spirit, He will convict us of our sin and comfort us in our need.   A thermometer that indicates a fever is not a problem in itself, it is the indicator of a problem.  Conviction, like guilt, is a symptom of something that needs to be dealt with.  We should not ignore it.  Jesus said He would leave us with a comforter and He did. If the indwelling Holy Spirit convicts, and we confess,  show contrition, then He will comfort.  This sad cycle is a necessary one if we are to mature.  This is how God can “Create in (us) a clean heart and renew a right spirit within (us).”  (Psalm 51:10) Don’t fear conviction, but don’t fail to act on it or comfort will not follow.  Be comforted today.