What are You Hiding From? God? Sin?

“What Are You Hiding From?”
Pastor Calvin Cook – April 24, 2025
Following Jesus From the Edges –

Scripture focus – Genesis 3:8-10 Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

I recently was talking to a friend from my childhood. As we were talking, as most old friend conversations go, we were talking of and reminiscing about childhood memories. One of the memories that came up was playing hide and go seek. One particular time we thought it would be fun to play in the cemetery at night. What seemed like a great idea turned out to be a terrifying experience as we allowed our imaginations and fear of the unknown to take. However, looking back, it was it just a bunch of kids that were naïve and not sure of the real world.

In the Garden of Eden, Adam and Eve made the first attempt of hiding—from God. “I was afraid… so I hid,” Adam confessed (Genesis 3:10). Fear, shame, and guilt became the first reflexes of a heart now aware of its brokenness. But what were they really hiding from? The consequences of sin… or the holiness, awesomeness, and power of God? Why did they choose sin over the best life possible that was promised to them, if they only obeyed that one simple rule. Stay away from that tree. Is not the Holy Spirit directing us in our lives today, to stay away from that which looks good on the outside, but will destroy us on the inside.

Fast forward to the locked room in John 20. The disciples, paralyzed by fear, hid not in a garden but behind walls. Jesus had risen, but they hadn’t yet encountered the full reality of resurrection. They weren’t just hiding from persecution—they were hiding from purpose, from calling, from the mystery of what Jesus’ resurrection, something never experienced before, would now change their life.

We do the same.

Sometimes we say we’re avoiding sin, distancing ourselves from temptation—but if we’re honest, we might be hiding from God Himself. It is just the same as the excuses we use, when we say or think: “I pray quietly it is personal”, or “I don’t need to worship in church I can worship on my own”, or my go to “I just need some time away”. But here is the tough part of the situation – “Do We?” Do we actually say or function through these ideas and many more to draw closer and be changed in our one-on-one relationship with Jesus, or does it become a great cover up for what is really happening in secret? Is it a gateway to sin that we can hide from everyone, even trying to hide it from God. That didn’t work so well for Adam and Eve, and the disciples locked away, and alert – it won’t work for us either!

When the presence of God is with us it will expose to us, even convict us that we are truly not being honest with ourselves and with others. From His presence that exposes, His voice that calls, His Spirit that sends will be what will transform us. Not a lot of idle chatter and empty promises.

Hebrews 4:13 reminds us that “nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight.” The One who sees all does not come to condemn, but to breathe peace and purpose into our fears—just as Jesus did when He entered the locked room and said, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, I am sending you.” (John 20:21)

This morning, I really feel I need to say this – Quit using all these clever religious terms and functions to cover up what really needs to take place in all of our lives. Recognizing God, Coming to Know Jesus as Personal Savior, forgiveness and redemption of our sins, and moving into the glorious new Kingdom of God here on earth that has been prepared for you. And never forget to share it with another.

Some personal questions to ponder and meditate on –
• Am I hiding from sin… or am I hiding from the God who can deal with my sin?
• Is fear keeping me from stepping into the mission Jesus is calling me to?
• What locked doors in my life might Jesus be waiting to walk through?

Prayer: Lord, shine your light into the places I hide. I don’t want to run from You—I want to run to You. Break through the locked doors of my heart, speak peace to my fears, and send me out as one who has been truly seen and truly loved. Amen.