I could not wait to unwrap my Christmas presents. When they were laid enticingly beneath the tree, my mother would warn me, “Don’t shake them. Don’t touch them.” But since my childish curiosity was unquenchable, I had to see what was inside. Sometimes I would gently undo the tape, unfold the wrapping paper, and peek inside. Wrapping paper concealed what was inside, and I couldn’t bear it.

Gift wrap may successfully hide and disguise a present, but there is no wrapping paper sufficient to cover the condition of our sinful hearts. The Lord always tears it off by His omniscience. His sight is so penetrating that it burns through anything we may use to cover up the true condition of our hearts (Rev. 1:14). As the writer of Hebrews said, “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). 

We may try to wrap our wicked hearts with the sparkling paper of good works. We may try to conceal our heart with the glossy paper of deception, convincing ourselves that we aren’t really that sinful. We may attempt to cover our heart with the gleaming paper of hypocrisy, appearing righteous only on the outside. But God will always unwrap our hearts. And the only cover for sin that is sufficient is the blood of Jesus Christ—the covering that God Himself provides (Genesis 3:21).

God wrapped Himself in flesh on Christmas Day so you wouldn’t have to wrap your heart in useless coverings. You don’t need to hide from God. You don’t need to conceal the wickedness of your heart with wrapping paper. The God who knows everything about you still loves you, and He wants you to come to Him just as you are. Let Jesus wrap you in the white robe of righteousness as you come to Him in repentance and faith (Revelation 3:4-5).

Bible Gleanings is a widely-read weekend devotional column, written for the Murray Ledger & Times in Calloway County, Kentucky.