A few days ago, I came across one of those social experiment videos on the Internet—those clips that engineer some scenario which investigates themes of human morality, honesty or empathy. The videos where someone glues $100 to the pavement to see who tries to pick it up, and how much energy they expend before they give up. Others show some disabled person drop a bag of groceries and see who will stop to help gather the shrapnel.
In this particular video, there was a hidden camera set up near an escalator in an airport. An attractive air hostess, wearing a skirt, was leaning against a glass banister just above the escalator in such a way that those using the escalator would have an almostunavoidable perspective, in which the “unwitting” air hostess would be displaying far more than would be appropriate.
The camera was not focused on the air hostess, however, but on the people using the escalator.
As I watched person after person look, with very few looking away, I wondered how many would have been embarrassed to know that their secret sin was being recorded.
How would I have responded if I was on that escalator? Would I avert my gaze, showing honour to the lady by recognising her dignity as one made in the image of God? Would I take a second look, giving into temptation to sin?
More importantly, what motivates my righteousness? If I knew I could take a look without being caught, would that make any difference to my actions? Especially in the heat of battle, when I wouldn’t have the luxury of time to weigh my actions carefully.
As I soberly reflected on the weakness of my flesh, I began to think about the fact that I would be terribly ashamed to have a recording of my sin for all the world to see. I realised, with a start, that this is precisely what Scripture warns us about.
Consider the following texts:
- Numbers 32:23—But if you will not do so, behold, you have sinned against the LORD, and be sure your sin will find you out.
- Psalm 90:8—You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence.
- Ecclesiastes 12:14—For God will bring every deed into judgement, with every secret thing, whether good or evil.
- Luke 12:2–3—Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the dark shall be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in private rooms shall be proclaimed on the housetops.
- 1 Corinthians 4:5—Therefore do not pronounce judgement before the time, before the Lord comes, who will bring to light the things now hidden in darkness and will disclose the purposes of the heart. Then each one will receive his commendation from God.
- Hebrews 4:13—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.
How incredibly sobering it is to be reminded that, even when we think that no one is looking, God sees! More than that, God sees beyond our actions to the thoughts and intentions of the heart (Hebrews 4:12)!
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Psalm 139:2—You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar.
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1 Chronicles 28:9—The LORD searches all hearts and understands every plan and thought.
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Jeremiah 17:10—I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds.
Surely, such knowledge should drive us wicked people to despair. There is nowhere to hide! A person might be self-disciplined enough to live an outwardly clean life, but who can tame the raging forest fire of sin in the heart?
Thanks be to God for the gospel, which sets us free from slavery to sin! The gospel sets us free from the condemning power of the law, and the Holy Spirit empowers believers to grow in righteousness and actually become the saints they have been declared to be in Christ!
’Twas grace that taught my heart to fear,
and grace my fears relieved;
how precious did that grace appear
the hour I first believed!
Even for believers, the truth of God’s omnipresence, should cause us to fear. But praise the Lord that, for those who stop pretending they are righteous and instead cling to Christ, God’s omnipresence and omniscience means that they can not only avoid wickedness when nobody is looking, but they can also engage in righteousness when nobody is looking. Christians do this knowing that God who sees in secret will reward them (Matthew 6:4, 6, 18).
Because of the gospel, God will not only forgive those who confess their secret sins, which he knows full well, but he will also reward those who, by faith, practise mercy and righteousness! Amazingly, God does this even though such people can only engage in this holy living because of his gift of grace to them in the first place!
God saves, God empowers, and then God rewards!
Jesus said, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matthew 5:8). When Stephen preached on that text, he helpfully showed that the pure in heart are not those who are perfect, but are rather those who live consistently with their redeemed nature. The pure in heart are children of God, and they behave like children of God. This is what every believer should desire and pray for. This is the blessed life where we don’t live one way in public and another way in private.
This is the life where we live every moment coram Deo (before the face of God). Not to avoid punishment, or receive reward, but because that is who we are, and that is the nature of the God we worship.
May God give us the grace and the desire to live as those who are pure in heart. Not only avoiding evil, even when nobody is looking, but those who live righteously, at personal expense, knowing that our God sees and knows and rewards those who live like his children, with the knowledge, pleasure, and embrace of God himself!