The Soul Anchor [Hebrews 6:19] - August 1, 2023
I heard a news report recently that smart watches such as an apple watch can be used to spy on us. In reality, virtually any tech product with a camera today can be used for spying, even on its owner. Privacy is a huge issue in our society today. What is equally important as if we are being watched is the question, “Who is watching us?”
According to Popular Mechanics, there are an estimated 30 million surveillance cameras now deployed in the United States shooting 4 billion hours of footage a week. Americans are being watched, all of us, almost everywhere.
This is a question that goes way back in history. The Latin phrase, “Quis custodiet ipsos custodes? is found in the work of the Roman poet Juvenal from his Satires and is literally translated as "Who will guard the guards themselves?" Though it is also known by other translations, such as "Who watches the watchers?" and "Who'll watch the watchmen?" Perhaps today we should say, “Who will watch the watches?” The phrase is now commonly used more generally to refer to the problem of controlling the actions of persons in positions of power, an issue discussed by Plato in the Republic. This is no small question in our society today with so much of our personal information available to so many people.
As Americans we hold to the right to privacy which we believe is guaranteed to us by our constitution. However as believers in Jesus we must see a bigger picture. Hebrews 11:13 says,
“All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.”
While we are currently citizens of the United States it is important to understand that we are just aliens here and as members of the Kingdom of God we have no right to spiritual privacy. In fact just the opposite is true. There are multiple Bible verses that say without equivocation- we keep no secrets from God including another verse from Hebrews, Hebrews 4:13 says,
“Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.”
In Luke 8:17, Jesus says,
“For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open.”
As much as we may desire privacy and the right to hold secrets in our lives, as citizens of heaven we must understand that there is no hiding from God. If you don’t believe me you can ask Adam and Eve! The blessing that we have as believers is that the one who knows ALL of our secrets is the most gracious God to be found. It is His promise that it is by grace we are saved through faith- not what we do.
Rather than trying to flee God’s watchful eye it is truly much wiser to embrace it for when we really realize that God truly is our audience, we will want to live our best for Him.
Legendary UCLA basketball coach, John Wooden was not just a coacher of players he was also an incredible builder of men and he is quoted as saying,
“The true test of a man’s character is what he does when no one is watching.”
Who are you when only God is in the audience?
God Bless,
Pastor Frank