“And no creature is hidden from His sight,
but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.”
(Hebrews 4:13)
God sees and knows everything everywhere, for He fills both heaven and earth. He inhabits eternity – every space at every point in time. And since He cannot be confined to any single place, neither can He be excluded from any place. He therefore sees and knows everything every creature does. For, “all things are open and exposed before Him,” (Hebrews 4:13).
Because God knows all and sees all and is in all, He is also infinitely wise. Often in Scripture God is called by the name of wisdom itself because not only does He have perfect knowledge and understanding, He knows how to apply that knowledge perfectly in every situation. Further, Christ is called the wisdom of God (Prov. 8:22-24), because with one immutable, eternal act of understanding Christ as God also perfectly sees and perceives, observes and knows all things.
Just as God’s ability to see in secret is a matter of terror to the ungodly because they will be judged for every sinful action, thought and motive, it is comforting to the righteous because this is how God tends to them as a loving and corrective Father. David speaks both with wonder and gladness when he says, “Whither shall I go from thy Spirit, or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold thou art there; if I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost part of the sea, even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me,” (Psalm 139:7-10). Wherever you serve as a faithful believer of Jesus Christ, God is with you, taking notice of all your complaints, needs, and desires.
Practice becoming spiritually aware of the presence of the all-seeing and heart-searching God who knows you and who alone can make you know yourself. Remember that you cannot possibly deceive Him, for all things are open to His omniscient view, and allow that truth of God your Father to bless, sustain and comfort you.
- Lord, You are a God of infinite understanding. There is nothing You do not know. Your knowledge is eternal, and it includes all times and places, as well as the deep recesses of my heart. You see me in every way possible by knowing everything I do in one moment, in one single act of understanding. Why, then, do I still sin, knowing that You know all my ways and search out my heart?
- Lord, You are above all, and see the motions of every creature in the universe. By one single thought You comprehend the whole of creation and all their acts. The whole world is set in Your eye and all things are as a grain of dust to Your vast knowledge. All time is but a moment to Your eternity, which You behold with more ease than I can move or turn my own eye. Keep me aware of Your penetrating eye so that I live and walk before You in holiness.
- All Your knowledge, Lord, is singularly perfect in its harmony and completeness. By Your power and knowledge, You see eternity at once which shall in time all be unfolded in Your flawless plan. I have only a shadow of knowledge even of myself. I can hardly sense or perceive my present moment. But You, Lord, You see all things about me in a moment of Your faultless understanding. You know how to help me, how to forgive me, how to minister Christ to me, how to save me, and how to do all things for my profit and good. You know how to be faithful, even when I am faithless. Help me glorify You in all this, that I might serve You with a remembrance of that ever-watchful eye that keeps me safe and sees all my comings and goings.
Further References for Hebrews 4:13
Job 26:6; Ps. 33:13; 2 Chron. 16:9; Job 34:21; 1 Sam. 16:7; Rom 2:16
