“You can run but you can’t hide.”
Some say that this phrase became famous when Joe Louis, a boxer from the 1930s, said it. Others may quote it giving credit to President Ronald Reagan when he said this regarding the capture of terrorists in 1985. But, the real One who came up with this thought was God.
In Jeremiah 23:23-24 we read:
This message is from the Lord.
“I am God, and I am always near.
I am not far away.
Someone might try to hide from me in some hiding place.
But it is easy for me to see that person, says the Lord,
because I am everywhere in heaven and earth.”
Hide from God? Seriously?! Oh we try. We’ll run in the total opposite direction from Him. We’ll shrink down in our bodies thinking He can’t see the sin we’ve done or are doing. But, He sees all and knows all. When we play “hide-n-seek” with God, just give up. He’s the ultimate Finder.
It reminds me of a couple of things from my childhood that both instances take place in the same room. We had a laundry room that was about 6’x18’ long (I’m totally guessing. It appeared to grow smaller the older I got.). In there were two large and long freezers. There was enough space behind the freezers one could hide, and there were always enough clothes on top of the freezers to escape into.
When playing “hide-n-seek”, this room was a great place to hide. There were not only clothes piled high on top of the freezers and space behind the freezer to hide in, but a closet also to sneak into. Many games were won due to that laundry room.
When we played the game of “hide-n-seek” was not the only time I would escape into that room. I was not a morning person, and going to elementary school was not on the top of my priority list. I can remember being told to wake up, and then I would go into the laundry room, curl up on top of the clothes that had been warmed by the energy from the freezers, and fall back asleep. My mom finally got the “heads up” on my secret hiding place, and would march me back to my room to get ready for the day. Ugh! It was so warm and comfy. Ahhhh, I can feel it now as a cozy memory.
Even though we may win in a friendly game of “hide-n-seek” with our friends, just like my mom found me out, our Heavenly Father finds us out too. He just didn’t have to look as hard. He is watching and waiting on us to realize He sees us all the time.
Psalm 139:7-12, “Your Spirit is everywhere I go. I cannot escape your presence. If I go up to heaven, You will be there. If I go down to the place of death, You will be there. If I go east where the sun rises or go to live in the west beyond the sea,even there You will take my hand and lead me. Your strong right hand will protect me. Suppose I wanted to hide from You and said, “Surely the darkness will hide me. The day will change to night and cover me.” Even the darkness is not dark to You. The night is as bright as the day. Darkness and light are the same.”
Proverbs 15:3, “The LORD is watching everywhere, keeping his eye on both the evil and the good.”
God will be there. His is omnipresent.
Blessings to you.
October 24, “Walking in the Word”