Mushroom hunting is a thing in our family, and it’s amazing how secretive fellow enthusiasts are about where they locate these elusive but edible delicacies.
By way of contrast, every parent or grandparent is shameless in declaring the accomplishments of their children or grandchildren.
When it comes to making known the righteousness, faithfulness, and the glorious deliverance of our Heavenly Father, are Christ followers more like mushroom hunters or proud parents? Do we keep them secret or shout them out?
The Psalmist declared, “I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart; I have spoken of Your faithfulness and Your salvation…” (Psalm 40:10a) What the Psalmist knew personally, he proclaimed freely.
His conduct prompts two questions in my mind. Do we know God’s righteousness, faithfulness, and salvation personally? God’s righteousness is His moral purity that exposes our human depravity. The Psalmist was not silent about God’s sinlessness, just as proud parents of the class valedictorian won’t hesitate to declare his/her academic perfection.
The Psalmist eagerly spoke of God’s faithfulness to fulfill His promises, provide for, and protect His people. He knew this first hand because of God’s deliverance from his enemies and personal tragedy.
Knowing God’s righteousness necessitates an acute awareness of our own wickedness. That consciousness convinces us that we deserve punishment, but we desperately desire pardon. God’s faithfulness to holiness, justice, and love is most clearly manifest in mercifully providing for our salvation—deliverance from His just wrath through Christ’s death in our place. “Therefore having been justified (declared righteous) by faith we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ… we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.” (Romans 5:1,9)
If we know God’s righteousness, faithfulness, and salvation personally because we are part of His family (John 1:12), are we silent or sharing them? These treasures are not to be hidden but heralded because in declaring them we point everyone to the only source of true satisfaction and eternal communion with God.
Human beings are seeking fulfillment in so many things: pleasurable pursuits, possessions, influence, fame, and fortune that cannot bring true fulfillment. C.S. Lewis aptly stated, “If we find ourselves with a desire that nothing in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that we were made for another world.”
When Christ followers speak openly of God’s righteousness, faithfulness, and salvation, we direct people to this other world where there is contentment, fulfillment, and purpose now and for eternity.
“Let those who love Your salvation say continually, ‘The Lord be magnified,’” (Psalm 40:16) so others may come to know Him personally and join in the chorus with us.