Secrets, especially ones that belong in the dark closet, are best kept quiet. After all, no one needs to know what kinds of nefarious things we have done in the past. No one will hear us when we whisper our nasty words into the ears of those who will be hurt by them. Our dirty deeds can remain a secret between us and our victims, right?

While visiting Innsbruck in South-west Austria, we were surprised by the numerous visitors that flooded the old town. We could hardly move through the crowds, and the noise of everyone busily conversing between themselves in foreign languages was nearly overpowering. For all we knew, people could have been telling horrendous secrets and no one would have ever known the difference.

Or at least that's what I thought… In our ambition to savour this city to the fullest, we climbed the steps of the 14th century Stadtturm, the city tower next to the old town hall. Being 56 meters high (184 feet) it provides an outstanding view of the city. Just the thing for a photographer buff such as myself!

As I was busily shooting photo after photo, my wife caught my attention. "Stop for a minute," she said. "Listen to the people down below!" I put my camera down and peered out over the rail as she had suggested, fully expecting to hear the same cacophony I had heard from the street level, but to my surprise, not only could I clearly see every individual action of each person in the square below, but I could distinctly hear each word that was spoken! If I could have understood all of those different languages, I would have been able to understand every conversation that went on 184 feet below me without any effort at all!

How was this possible?

It was our vantage point. Our spot, high above the city, made it possible for us to eavesdrop effortlessly. Suddenly it struck me that there are truly no secrets in this world. Every decision we make has repercussions, either for the good or for the bad. The laws of physics, as well as the laws of life make sure of this. The more stubbornly selfish we become, the more people get hurt. The more we focus on Jesus, the more people will be blessed.

Secrets of the past will be one day be laid open in front of everyone. This may or may not happen in this life-time, but if not, it will certainly happen on Judgement Day. How? Because just as we could distinguish every conversation and every action from the top of the Innsbrook Stadtturn, God can do this even more effectively: "He knows where everything is on earth, he sees everything under heaven." (Job 28:24 The Message)

We need to ask ourselves if it's really worth our while to hang on to our past secrets. Instead, wouldn't it be better to search for forgiveness and make amendments? Wouldn't life be more worthwhile if there were no longer any worries about being discovered? If we had the assurance that we were living in God's will?

Our decisions will have repercussions for eternity. May we live without regret!

"There is something deep within them that echoes God's yes and no, right and wrong. Their response to God's yes and no will become public knowledge on the day God makes his final decision about every man and woman." (Rom 2:15-16 The Message)

"Now that you've cleaned up your lives by following the truth, love one another as if your lives depended on it." (1 Peter 1:22 The Message)

What is your pet secret?

Rob Chaffart