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Everyday Stories of Life and Being a Man
Every Word and Deed
Presidential elections are fun, aren’t they!? (insert a ton of sarcasm as you read that) I actually hate my life every four years. Every media source is full of conversations from both sides of the political aisle and most of it is stuff that none of us believes will actually be delivered even if they promised the world (which is what most of them do!). One of the amazing things about election season, though, is seeing how politicians are made to repsond to every word they’ve ever spoken. With technology being the way that it is, politicians today are reminded of (seemingly) every word and deed they’ve ever spoken or done.
The constant grilling from the media is a good reminder for every one of us. It is reminds us that everything that you say and do will be held against you. When you’re figuring out who to vote for you can find out what they voted for, what they wrote or said about their decisions, when they said it, who they said it to, and probably find some video evidence to back it up. It is incredible how the world has changed.
While I don’t particularly feel bad for politicians in most cases, this is one area where I do just a little bit. It is easy to look at the tv and laugh at how absurd some of the things George W. Bush had said that made him look so terrible. It is equally as funny to watch Barak Obama get cornered by difficult questions or unprepared moments without a teleprompter and stutter and say “uh…uh…uh” about twenty times in one sentence. If you don’t believe that they’ve both had their share of blunders you can look them up on YouTube because, like I said, every word and deed has been recorded.
But before some of you stop reading this to start looking for videos of how the president that you dislike the most has screwed up, let me re-focus your attention to the point at hand.
Imagine that it is your life that were being recorded.
Here’s the scenario: NBC calls you one morning while you’re at home getting ready for the day. They tell you that you have been selected as a participant for the next reality television show about everyday Americans and the life they lead. You would make $1,000,000 for your troubles as long as they had 24 hour access and all future rights to everything that was recorded, filmed, and used for the show. You agree to do it and the camera crews show up.
This scenario is not hard to imagine. With reality television the way it is, we could easily envision what this type of show would entail and the experience it would bring.
In many of today’s reality television shows, participants are often asked to return ater the show has concluded and do a post-show gathering. Directors and reality tv hosts play back many of the moments from the show and participants are asked to explain their actions, words, or feelings during particular moments. Like politicians during a campaigning season, participants of reality television are held accountable to every word and deed that was recorded. Everything is exposed. Nothing is secret. When your life is always being recorded, there is nothing that is hidden.
It is kind of a scary thought, isn’t it? Can you imagine having your entire life recorded and watched and then being held accountable for everything you’ve ever said or done? Well…like it or not – it’s already happening.
If you’re a conspiracy theorist you probably think I’m talking about a big government spy agency that’s recording your life. As far as I know, that’s not it. But what I do know is that your life is being recorded and you will be judged on every word and deed you’ve ever said or done. Here’s how I know.
God sees and records everything.
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Heb 4:13).
“But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.” (Mat. 12:36)
“The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” (Prov. 15:3)
You see, most of us would hate the idea of running for President of the United States or joining a reality television show because we wouldn’t want the scrutiny or exposure that it would bring by being recorded twenty-four hours a day. But the true reality is that you and I are being recorded – but by an even more invasive way than cameras or recorders could ever do.
The bible says that God is not only everywhere and sees everything, but that He even knows the thoughts, intents and motives of our hearts. That means that even if you could fool everyone else on camera and appear to be something that you weren’t – you can’t fool God. He knows and sees every area of your life.
In Hebrews 9:27, the bible also tells us that we are all going to die and then face some serious one-on-one time with God. It doesn’t describe what that will look like specifically, but I have some mental pictures of what I think it could look like.
I picture a room that is all white. There is nothing in the room except for God, a chair, and filing cabinet. Imagine now that God invites you into this room and asks you to take a seat. He then opens the filing cabinet that has only one name on it – yours. God grabs a folder and opens it up. Inside you see everything from your life. Every word, every deed, every thought, every lie, every sin, every ugly moment … everything. You instantly realize that everything has been recorded. God constantly looks down at the file and then back up at you but He doesn’t say a word. Finally, after what seems like forever, God takes a deep breath and pauses. He looks up at you one more time and looks you straight in the eye. You know you are busted. There is no hiding the fact that you’ve screwed up over and over again and God knows about it all. You put your head down in shame as God grabs your file and pulls out the only other folder in your file. It also has a label. It says, “My Son”. God opens the folder and pulls out one sheet. He looks the document over and then looks up at you one last time. You feel the weight of the moment as you await your verdict and you lift your head up slowly in your ultimate and final moment of truth. God slowly begins to smile and He opens His arms out wide. You know that you’re safe. You’ve been forgiven.
Many of us feel as if we’re able to get away with some things. Maybe nobody will see what you’re secretly looking at online. Maybe nobody will find out about the feelings you’re having for a co-worker. Maybe nobody will catch you cheating on your taxes. Maybe. But your life is being recorded and everything is going to one day be exposed and, as the bible has said, ‘laid bare before the One to whom we must give account.’ This is a sobering truth and one that we ought to keep close to our hearts. You are being recorded and you can’t fool the One who sees and knows it all.
So here’s what you can do if you’re feeling busted.
Stop and consider your ways. Get on your knees and tell God that you’re sorry. Don’t try to sound overly-spiritual or eloquent – just talk to Him openly and honestly like you would a friend. Confess that you need Him and that you recognize that He is always watching and recording everything and that you want to begin living your life for Him in a new and fresh way. When you do this, God will hear you and He will forgive. He’s recording everything and if you really mean it when you say you’re sorry, He’ll know it and put it in your file.
Every word and every deed is being recorded. You might as well start filling your file with things that make God smile and make Him proud to call you His son.
How does the thought of being recorded 24/7 make you feel? What comes to mind when you think about your own judgment day? Please share your thoughts and comments below.
Photo by matthewschutte on Flickr
