WHAT'S BEHIND THE BLACK PLASTIC?
Objects
a piece of black plastic, perhaps 8 x 10" or so
__________
Have you boys and girls ever looked at a piece of black plastic like this? This piece of black plastic is not so large but it is large enough to conceal a number of things that may be behind it.
Now let me ask, is there anyone here who can tell me what is behind the black plastic? Now, I need a volunteer. Will you step up here and will you hold an object behind the black plastic? Again, is there anyone here who can tell what is behind the black plastic? No, nobody? The black plastic is pretty thick, isn't it?
Psalm 139:1-4 reads, "0 Lord, thou hast searched me and known me! Thou knowest when I sit down and when I rise up; thou discernest my thoughts from afar. Thou searchest out my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, lo, 0 Lord, thou knowest it altogether." Wow!
Psalm 139:23 says, "Search me, 0 God, and know my heart!" God knows everything, boys and girls. He knows secrets, He knows just everything in all the world. You can't hide from God. You can't hide behind a piece of black plastic.
Boys and girls, it is like a powerful searchlight that sweeps back and forth across the inside of us letting God see and know of everything about "me." You see, God knows you. I don't know you. This is because we keep so many secrets. However there are no secrets when we think of God because He really knows.
Many years ago, I saw a cartoon that I have always remembered o A little girl was sent to the store to get a bag of candy and bring it back home. She was told not to eat any. Now, when she came out of the store she was so tempted to eat the candy that she opened up a black umbrella, placed it over her head and sat against the wall of the building and she ate the candy. The caption of the picture was, "Nobody can see me, not even the angels in heaven." But boys and girls, God sees everything we do. He beholds good things and He beholds the bad things. God is not limited. God is great. He is my Father and He is your Father, by faith if you will believe in Him and trust in Him. Amen.
Jesus says that we must abide in Him if we are to be strong, have strength and, in short, to even survive. If we are detached we will wither. It is like snipping a branch from a strong vine. It will soon wither, dry up and be useless. So, Jesus is telling His followers that we are to remain in Him. Amen.
