Christopher opened his car door and stepped out. He was at the grocery store for a few quick things on the way home from work. He noticed a small bag on the ground between his car and the next one over. It didn’t look like trash, he thought, as he picked it up. He gasped as he looked at several stacks of money bundled together. 100’s, 50’s, and 20’s filled the small bag. His pulse quickened and he looked around. Did anyone see? What should he do, he wondered. There were no obvious markings or anything to identify it.
He knew he should turn it in, yet the temptation to keep it was strong. Untraceable cash could go a long way to helping he and his wife with their financial struggles.
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The legendary basketball coach John Wooden said “The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.” The decisions you make when there is no one there to keep you accountable show who you are. We are alone an awful lot. Commuting to work, time at work, time spent alone shopping, being home alone sometimes when our families are gone, or being home alone always if we live alone. We are faced with numerous decisions every day hidden from public view.
Don’t think you’re ever alone? There’s no one else in your head. (I hope) We are always alone with our thoughts whether we are close in proximity to others or not. No one’s watching, or so you think. What goes through your mind in these supposed times of solitude, whether mental or physical? If no one could ever find out what would you most want to do?
Someone Is Always Watching
Here’s the thing, as we stroll down the potentially dark boulevards of our minds. Someone is always watching. We are never hidden from the view of God. Not simply visually, he knows our every thought. There is no time of total solitude, for God is there. Wherever we go and whatever we do, he is there. Far from this being oppressive and crushing, this should be comforting.
God sees and knows all that we go through. He understands our every temptation, situation, and contemplation. We pray and cry out to him for things he already knows. Our Father is a good and gracious and will take care of his children. When we walk through dark valleys of suffering, despair, depression, and grief he is there with us, sustaining us. When we walk on mountains of joy he is there with us, sustaining us.
Jonathan Edwards realized this fully and resolved to live accordingly in resolution #5 “Resolved never to do anything which I should be afraid to do if it were my last hour of my life or before the last trumpet blew.”
He resolved to live justly before God, knowing full well that everything he did is answerable to One of above all. But we have grace, you say. Grace that is greater than all our sin. Yes, we do. God also tells us, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.” (1 Peter 1:16) Christ is our righteousness and holiness, yet we are still called to obey and pursue holiness.
My illustration above and these words are trying to remind you that you live before the face of God. Nothing you do or think escapes him. You can shrink back in fear at the awesomeness of the thought. I do. Yet rather than collapsing in despair at my sin every day, I collapsed in despair into Jesus Christ seven years ago.
Today is the day of salvation. You live before the face of God and nothing is hidden from him. Repent of your sins and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. He alone can save you.
