Hide 'n Seek

Psalm 27:4-5 (New Living Translation)

The one thing I ask of the Lord — the thing I seek most —
is to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life,
delighting in the Lord’s perfections and meditating in his Temple.
For he will conceal me there when troubles come;
he will hide me in his sanctuary.
He will place me out of reach on a high rock.

Do you remember playing hide 'n seek (or some variant such as 'kick the can')? One person was "it" - and you NEVER wanted to be "it". That person would stand at "home base", close their eyes, and count while everyone else ran to hide themselves.

Do you remember, there were two ways to win? You could avoid becoming "it", if you could make it to home base before being tagged, and also if you remained hidden until you heard the call of "Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!", which signaled the end of the game.

The scripture from Psalm 27 brings this game to mind. If you think about it, we haven't yet touched "home base". Our game is still going on (I'm still typing and you're still reading). And while that remains the case, we always look forward to our "sprint to home base", when God opens the books of our lives and examines to see if our names are recorded in the book of Life (see Revelation 20:12). But until that time comes, we're here on earth, still playing the game. And every day we're trying to keep from losing (being 'tagged' by the enemy).

Psalm 32:6-7 (Amplified)
For this [forgiveness] let everyone who is godly pray--pray to You in a time when You may be found; surely when the great waters [of trial] overflow, they shall not reach [the spirit in] him. You are a hiding place for me; You, Lord, preserve me from trouble, You surround me with songs and shouts of deliverance.

Lord, I thank you for safely hiding me, while I'm still in the game of my life. Lord, I want to hear that wonderful call "Ollie Ollie Oxen Free!" when I'm summoned home to be with you eternally. But in the meantime, Lord, please keep me safe. Hide me, hide my family, hide all of your saints. I'll continue to pray, and thank you for the "songs of deliverance" you send. Thank you, Lord. Thank you!

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© 2010 Scotty Ward