Be on guard! Be alert! You do not know when that time will come. It’s like a man going away: He leaves his house and puts his servants in charge, each with their assigned task, and tells the one at the door to keep watch.
Mark 13:33,34
While I was always looking to goof off as a kid, I was taught to work. And there were definite times to work. When it was time to cut the lawn, you went and did it.
When we were going fishing, it was my responsibility to take everything out to the car except for the five-gallon gas cans. My responsibilities included food, clothing, multiple thermos full of hot and cold drinks. Soda was too expensive and there was no such thing as bottled water. If there was, I’m sure that too would have been considered too expensive.
When it came time to clean the house, my jobs were to push a floppy dustmop and do all the hardwood floors. Next was dusting the furniture, knickknacks, and bowling trophies. My last job was to vacuum the rugs.
This was followed by my mom’s careful inspection. Did I dust under the beds? Did I move the chairs and tables to get where the legs came dug into the rug?
When we had a family gathering, I was responsible to get out all the folding chairs. This was followed by setting them up and wiping them down with a damp rag. Now, I knew that mom or dad were coming around behind me to inspect my work. After all, you didn’t want to miss a spot because that would give my aunt’s something to talk about (like they needed a new topic to complain about.)
This has made me into the person I am today. I’m a careful and diligent worker. No matter the task, I want to do a good job, making sure that everything is shipshape. That things are where they belong and are in good working order.
Jesus wants us to live like this, but not so much about dusting and cleaning. He wants us to live like our God is watching. And he’s coming back soon.
If God is who he says he is, then he knows all. Sees all. Is everywhere all at the same time. This means that our loving, creator, and saving God is right there as you read these words. There are no secrets between him and us.
· So, why do we do and say things that are hurtful to him and others? If he is our God and savior, then we should want to do nothing but lovingly respond by acting just like he acts towards us. Our obedience is to be fueled and ignited by who he is. His love for us. His saving us in Jesus.
· So, why do we think we can hide our words, thoughts, actions, and attitudes from him? We might be somewhat successful in hiding things from our family and friends, but we haven’t got a shot at hiding anything from God.
Now I don’t often quote an extended passage from the Bible, but this deserves to be read and heard.
Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me,” even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:7-12
This is a statement of fact. Period. There is no getting around this. We can’t hide from God. We cannot hide ourselves from him. We can’t hide our secrets from him. We can’t hide our shame from him. We can’t hide our failures from him.
Now, there are three ways to look at this.
One. You can try to run and hide from God. After all, you know he disapproves of you, so why try and have a relationship with him. There’s no point in trying or calling out to him.
Two. You can try and clean yourself up. You might try harder. You might work harder. You might try and be nicer to people. But you’ve already tried this before and failed so miserably.
Three. You can come to him just as you are. A hot mess of a person, covered with the dirt of your life. Full of guilt and shame inside. This is the only way that we come to God. This is the way everyone comes to God.
Are we on guard? Afraid of getting hit from his anger? Or are we energized to please him because of his undying love and sacrifice for us?
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