What did you think when you heard about the NSA (National Security Agency) scandal? Did you have even a brief moment of panic when you realized that your emails, Internet searches, phone calls, and virtually all information that you assumed was “private” might be known to others…and even possibly used against you? I am troubled and grieved–and wish I could say surprised—by our government’s gross intrusion into its citizen’s private affairs that has surfaced over the past several weeks with the recent IRS and NSA scandals.
However, I also believe the reality that what we have assumed was secret and have discovered is not, can be an important wake up call and reminder that nothing we do is ever done in secret. Our words; our actions; what we write, watch, and read; and even our heart motives, have always been known to a holy, perfect God. His knowledge is limitless! Many scriptures testify to what is commonly referred to as God’s omnipresence and omniscience.Here are just a few:
“’Who can hide in secret placesso that I cannot see them?’ declares the Lord. ‘Do not I fill heaven and earth?” Jeremiah 23:24
“If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.” Psalm 139:8
“Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether.” Psalm 139:4
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts,neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord.As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.” Isaiah 55:8-9
“And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” Hebrews 4:13
If we love and have a reverent fear, or awe, of God we will obey His commandments (John 14:12-17).If we are walking in obedience to God’s commands, we will not live a life of habitual sin against Him or against mankind. And when we do sin, we will admit our sin to God and receive the forgiveness and cleansing that he has promised to all who confess their sins (1st John 1:9).We also will repent of (turn away from) our sin, which includes going to those whom we have sinned against to seek their forgiveness. When we trust in the redemption from sin that He purchased for us at the cross we will be free from guilt, shame, and the fear of exposure before man. You will know that you stand clean before God and you’ll be free from any concern regarding whether or not the government has any ‘dirt’ on you.
It is possible that you may be persecuted unjustly, just as Jesus was. He said that a servant is not above his master and if the world hated Him to expect that it will hate His followers as well (John 15:18-25). However, we can be like Jesus Who did not fear man because He trusted in the perfect will and love of His heavenly Father.
“What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? … Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.Who then is the one who condemns? No one… Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword?… No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8: 31,33-34,35,37-39
Have you confessed your sin and turned away from it so that you can stand clean before the Judge of this world?Are you in right standing with the Only One whose view really matters?If not, I encourage you with these words from Isaiah 55:6-7, “Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.Let the wicked forsake their waysand the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the Lord, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.” Then rejoice, knowing that if the Son sets you free, then you are free indeed! (John 8:36)
Written by Julie Van Gorp