That thought usually bears a negative connotation. We don't like to learn that people we have come to revere have "secret lives". A leader, politician or minister gets caught in some compromising position and we turn on them fairly quickly.
Oddly enough, in the latter part of His sermon on the mount, Jesus recommended that His followers live secret lives - in a sense.
Secrets are not always bad - surprise birthday parties, secret strengths (like Popeye's spinach).
In the the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 6, Jesus recommended that Christians should avoid the spotlight in certain areas and live something of a secret life:- In their horizontal relationships (specifically, giving to others)
- In their vertical relationship (when they pray to God)
- In their inner relationship (how they should approach fasting as a means of keeping the keeping their own nature under God's control)
In each of these areas - dealing with others, dealing with God and dealing with our own sin natures - He said to do things secretly so as to keep our motivation pure.
Focusing on the prayer issue:
But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:6 NKJV*
Our relationship with God should lead us from time to time- into a secret place; He said our Father is in the secret place.
In Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men", George and his slow-witted sidekick - Lenny, were camping just outside a ranch where they would began a new job the next day. Lenny had always seemed to get the pair into trouble resulting in them having to flee for their lives on some occasions. So George hatched a plan: he told Lenny to remember the place - to remember all about that campsite; then if he got into trouble, Lenny should run to that place and hide and wait for George to come.
That is a picture of our Father who is always available in the secret place. When we get into trouble, we can run there to hide and He will come to us.
In ancient times, it is said that when kings of Persia discovered a fountain or well, they would build over it, an edifice with a secret entrance. In some cases, no one but the king - or possibly his son or some official bearing the king's signet ring - could ever access the fountain. In other words, for anyone to receive the refreshment offered by that secret place - they must be granted access by the king.
Followers of Christ have a secret place that they can run to as a refuge when they are in trouble and like those wells in Eastern desserts, the secret place can also be a place in which they can find refreshment and healing.
In fact it was Jesus, and His death and resurrection that provided access for us into the secret place (see Romans 5:2). Having access, we can run to that secret place where the Father dwells most any time... or we can live there! Listen to this Psalm:
He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the LORD, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”Psalm 91:1-2 NKJV*
Finally, in that secret place there is fellowship. In fact the word that is translated as "secret" in some places in the Bible, is also translated as "assembly" or "council" in others. So the secret place can be a place where we find direction, advice or counsel. In fact, the Amplified translation of another verse in Psalms paints the fellowship in intimate colors:
The secret [of the sweet, satisfying companionship] of the Lord have they who fear (revere and worship) Him, and He will show them His covenant and reveal to them its [deep, inner] meaning. Psalm 25:14 AMP**
Sweet, satisfying companionship -God explaining better His relationship with us; a Father who waits for us so He can provide refuge, refreshment and healing; and even an opportunity to live - every moment - in that fellowship with Him...
...all this is just a part of the secret life of those who follow Christ.
*Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
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