No One Can See Me

“You have trusted in your wickedness and have said, 'No one sees me.' Your wisdom and knowledge mislead you when you say to yourself, 'I am, and there is none besides me.'” Isaiah 47:10 NIV

I venture to say that all of us have pulled a bugger out of our noses when no one was around and a Kleenex was not handy. We would not be seen and would breathe more comfortably. But if there is even the slightest chance that someone might see us, none of us would do such a thing! I was reflecting on this concept after being tempted to not go to the next room for a Kleenex today. As Christians, I wonder how much of the time we do things that we would not do if God was visibly standing beside us.

“Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.” Colossians 3:9-10 NIV

So there is no wiggle room to tell “white” lies to make ourselves look good or kind. God seems to think a lie is a lie even if there is little chance anyone will know about the lie and it is an innocent, insignificant lie.

“With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” James 3:9-10 NIV

So we are not to be brutal in our honesty either. It seems that God does not approve of cursing and harsh words about or toward others.

“For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander.” Matthew 15:19 NIV

So evil thoughts are even a “no-no” for the Christian. God knows about them. This verse covers sins that many of us do not admit to ourselves that we commit in our thought life. It is true that sins committed in our thought life are not seen by others, but they are known by God. This fact has caused me much unease. I do not like the idea that I harbor evil thoughts. My thoughts may not always be kind or productive—but evil? Well, yes, they are evil. Covert thoughts as well as overt actions are either pleasing to God or are pleasing to Satan. Sobering! I must not indulge my sinful thoughts if I desire to worship and serve God.

Lord, even though at some level I have long understood that all I do and think are known by you. Make me more aware of when my thoughts and actions are displeasing to you. Make me fully aware of your presence each second of each day.