Secret Motives

There is a record also of people's sins. “God will bring every work into judgment, including every secret thing, whether good evil.” “For every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Secret motives appear in the record, for God “will both bring to light the hidden things of darkness and reveal the counsels of the hearts.” (Ecclesiastes 12:14; Matthew 12:36, 37; 1 Corinthians 4:5.) Next to each name in the books of heaven is entered every wrong word, every selfish act, every unfulfilled duty, and every secret sin. Heaven-sent warnings or reproofs neglected, wasted moments, the influence exerted for good or for evil, with its far-reaching results, are all listed by the recording angel.LF 198.2