The Inspection
This story first appeared as a guest post on Devotional Treasures.
The other day I stopped at a local station to gas up my car. As I milled around, I noticed two signs that puzzled me. Near the window washing station a small placard read, “We prosecute ALL theft, such as drive offs and credit card fraud. Every transaction and all tag numbers are recorded.” On the gas pump itself, not three feet away, was a sticker: “No need to prepay. We trust you.“
If they trust me then why are they watching my every move? Maybe it’s because they ARE watching my every move. In other words, the folks at the gas station inspect what they expect. They are not alone.
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether good or evil.
Ecclesiastes 12:14 (NIV)
The Lord gives us free will, not free rein. Full accountability is a given. Remember what happened after Adam and Eve ate the forbidden fruit? They heard God walking through the garden and hid from Him. But He called out to them, “Where are you?“
Here we have an early example of the leadership style later to be called “Management by Wandering Around.” God already knew what happened, and He insisted on coming down for a personal visit. One-on-one with THE BOSS, this is described elsewhere in the Bible:
So, then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God.
Romans 14:13 (NIV)
To be clear, I don’t think this means eternal damnation for every Chrisitian who messes up. We ALL mess up (Romans 3:23). No, this inspection of what is expected is more like Jesus’ parable of the talents in Matthew 25.
As the story goes, the master entrusts three of his servants with his property–each to his own ability–and leaves for a long trip. When he returns, two of them have doubled his money, but one is extra cautious and does nothing with it. After all, THE BOSS can be a demanding guy.
The master (God) praises the first two servants but criticizes the third with these words, “You bad and lazy servant!”–Matthew 25:26a (GNT)
Kind reader, each of us will answer to God one day for all we’ve done with the light He has given us. Yes, it’s a sobering thought, but one we should heed.
Prayers and love.
David Duncan is an ordained Southern Baptist minister turned elementary school administrator. He and his wife have three grown sons, but no grandchildren. They live in the Midwestern United States, with their Schnauzer, Cooper. David blogs at davidsdailydose.org, where he shares positive thoughts from a Christian perspective.
Image by DEEPAI
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