Has anyone ever told you not to do something bad because, “God is always watching”? And have you heard that and rolled your eyes because how could God possibly be so involved in your life and your affairs that He cares if you steal a pack of gum from a convenience store or cheat on a homework assignment? You might want to read the book of Job. “Mortals, born of woman, are of few days and full of trouble. They spring up like flowers and wither away; like fleeting shadows, they do not endure. Do you fix your eye on them? Will you bring them before you for judgment? Who can bring what is pure from the impure? No one! A person’s days are determined; you have decreed the number of his months and have set limits he cannot exceed. So look away from him and let him alone, till he has put in his time like a hired laborer.” Job 14:1-6 Imagine the absurdity of the metaphor Job is using. Would you spend every waking moment watching a flower, from the day it blooms to the day it withers and dies, making sure it succeeds in its purpose as a flower and judging it harshly on the day it withers and dies for all the ways in which it fell short of your expectations for your flowers? I’m guessing you probably wouldn’t make time to do this, but God does. For all of us. “What is mankind that you make so much of them, that you give them so much attention, that you examine them every morning and test them every moment? Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant?” Job 7:17-19 He gives us that amount of attention, examining us every morning and testing us every moment. Have you considered that thought? That as you sit down and watch a movie, or as you spend time with friends, or go shopping, or work, or eat, or do literally anything ever, that God is examining you? That God never looks away from you? I think our lives would look a lot different if we actually believed that God never looks away from us. Too many of us fall into the trap of thinking that we can get away with things and God won’t notice, or that God is too big and great to care about literally anything we do ever. But He does. And we can’t get away with anything, ever. “Would it turn out well if [God] examined you? Could you deceive him as you might deceive a mortal? He would surely call you to account if you secretly showed partiality. Would not his splendor terrify you? Would not the dread of him fall on you?” Job 13:9-11 It’s easy to deceive our friends. It’s easy to lie to them and make them think that we’re doing alright and not sinning in our thoughts or actions. But does it even matter that you can convince your friends if you can’t convince God? Who cares what your friends think? Will their opinions of you matter when you come before God at the end of your life? Can they vouch for you and tell God that you are actually a blameless person when God already knows everything you’ve done literally ever? Can you even vouch for yourself and tell God that you are a good person? Can you stand before the Almighty God with thunder and lightning and beams and rays and rumbling surrounding Him and thousands upon thousands of angels screaming His holiness and a sword coming out of His mouth and fire all around and argue your case? “Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:8-9 Don’t be deceived. If you think just because you can get away with sinning in your thoughts and actions in this life to the humans who live here, don’t assume you can do the same with God. God cannot be mocked. Even if you think you’re a good person because you’ve fooled other people or you serve the homeless and give to the poor, let me warn you that your judgment is not a pros and cons list. God will not look at the list of things you’ve done in your life and say, “Well, you’ve done more good than bad, so welcome to heaven.” We have all broken His law. We are all in need of His grace. If you're doing or thinking something that you'd be uncomfortable doing or thinking in the presence of the Almighty God, you should probably stop. Consider this often.
Please, don't try to save yourself. Rather, sow to please the Spirit. Do not grow weary in doing good. Get to know God and praise Him with your life, and when the time of judgment comes, His grace and mercy will be what saves you.
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AuthorFighting complacency and advocating change in myself for the world around me. Posts by Date
February 2019
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