LightGrams
March 30, 2017
Volume 21, Number 12
There are plenty of reasons to be concerned about our privacy nowadays. Technology has produced surveillance devices the average person might never notice. Many private vehicles now sport dash cams, and cameras are mounted in numerous stores, city streets – even church buildings! We are indeed being watched.
A story out of Westfield, New Jersey is especially creepy, however. Derek and Maria Broaddus purchased a home there for $1.4 million in 2014, but won’t move in. That’s because they have received a number of letters from someone who signs as “The Watcher”. This person claims the home is rightfully theirs, and a recent letter had threatening comments.
Few of us wish to be monitored by people we don’t know. What are their motives? How much do they already know about us? Will we be hurt by this person? Those are legitimate questions to ask. Such questions are also why no one will buy this house from the Broaddus family. Would you want to live there?
What about God? Haven’t we been taught that God is omniscient – that He knows and sees everything? Shouldn’t that make us uneasy? As a young boy I remember a hymn we sometimes sang in church that had these lines: “All along on the road to the soul’s true abode, there’s an eye watching you; ev’ry step that you take this great eye is awake, there’s an eye watching you.” That was never a favorite song of mine.
It’s true that the Bible makes the claim that God sees all. Hebrews 4:13 is one example: “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” God doesn’t need cameras; He is able to see all that goes on. Nothing is hidden from Him.
Such a truth doesn’t make me uneasy because I am also assured that God’s motives toward me are only for good. Psalm 34:8 extends a challenge: “Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him.” In a famous passage teaching us not to worry about food, clothing, or other necessities of life, Jesus stated this: “For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things” (Matthew 6:32).
There are times when we want to know someone is looking out for our best interests. The military diligently guards our nation’s borders; police patrol our streets at night to make our neighborhoods safe. We’re glad to know they’re watching.
How much more is God watching over us for our good! “The Lord has been mindful of us; He will bless us; … He will bless those who fear the Lord” (Psalm 115:12,13). By submitting my life to God’s will, I know that His all-seeing eye is watching me for good.
Come to the light God offers! Study His word, the Bible. Worship Him in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Get in touch with us if you’d like to discuss these ideas further.
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Copyright, 2017, Timothy D. Hall. All scripture quotations, unless otherwise noted, are from the New King James Version (Copyright, 1990, Thomas Nelson, Inc.).
“LightGrams” is produced by the Central Church of Christ, 2722 Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tennessee, 37601, and is written by Tim Hall, minister. It is sent free of charge every Thursday to all who request it. To subscribe or to receive more information, write to “[email protected]” (our E-mail address), to the U.S. mail address above, or call (423) 282-1571.
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