In 1984 there was a song titled, “Somebody’s Watching Me.†It was performed by an artist named Rockwell and the chorus was sung by Michael Jackson. I actually went and watched the old video again. Funny to see what used to be entertaining is no longer so, not just because technology has change, but also because my tastes have changed.
I’ll forever remember this song though because I was driving home coming back from the hospital the day Eddie was born. As I was pulling into the driveway, the local FM station asked a trivia question I knew the answer to. I ran into the house, called in and got through and won the prize. I told the DJ this was a particularly great day because my son had just been born. I told him I’d better get some sleep because I knew I wouldn’t be getting any once momma and baby got home. He said he would mention that on the radio when he announced me as the winner. So I ran and got my boom box so I could record it to have later when Eddie grew up. When I turned on the radio to catch the DJ when he came on, guess what song was playing? Yep, “Somebody’s Watching Me†by Rockwell.
This long story of seemingly meaningless personal trivia actually is a way of introducing a very important Biblical principle. God is always watching us and knowing this should help us stay on the straight and narrow. We can keep ourselves from becoming backslidden by purposing in our hearts to honor the Lord with all our conduct, especially when no one else is watching. We can do so knowing the Lord is watching and that should be good enough for us.
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“I will behave wisely in a perfect way. Oh, when will You come to me? I will walk within my house with a perfect heart.” (Psalm 101:2)
I always joke that you cannot be paranoid if you know everyone is out to get you. Of course living that way would be somewhat psychotic, however living our lives knowing the Lord is always watching us is prudent. When it comes to making day-to-day decisions about our behavior, the old adage “Look before you leap†is great advice. It is also Biblical:
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“Ponder the path of your feet, and let all your ways be established. Do not turn to the right or the left; remove your foot from evil.†(Proverbs 4:26-27)
It is easy to use the excuse that “I gave into my flesh,†but it is a weak excuse. I’ve already shared with you that my pastor says “Lust is the shallow Christian’s sin,†so if you’re going to use the excuse of your flesh for giving in to lust, know that you are admitting to being a shallow Christian. Somehow I don’t think anyone is going to be selling “I’m A Shallow Christian†refrigerator magnets and bumper stickers.
Besides, the Bible gives a simple antidote to giving into our flesh. It may not always be easy to accomplish, but it is easy to understand. Writing to the Galatian church, the Apostle Paul instructs us:
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“I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.†(Galatians 5:16)
Not very difficult to understand that teaching. Paul does go on to acknowledge that our flesh and spirit war against each other, and that this does keep us from doing things we don’t want to do. But he also reminds us that if we will give the Holy Spirit preeminence in our lives, then we will not have to give into to this fact of our fallen nature.
It comes down to the fact that as Christians we are expected to live a life of consistency. Paul exhorted the Ephesian church to do just that:
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“I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called.†(Ephesians 4:1)
Always remember to find out what the “therefore†is there for. Paul has explained to the Ephesian church how salvation in Christ is an act of grace and that living for Him brings the peace we seek and that Jesus is the cornerstone of our lives. Paul continues to explain that the Gospel is somewhat of a mystery and that this mystery had been revealed to Him. I encourage your to go read the whole of Paul’s short letter to the Ephesian church because it was written as a way for Christians to grow in spiritual maturity. It is an antidote for the shallow Christian. He then gives a caution that we would all do well to heed:
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“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.†(Ephesians 5:15-17)
We are facing tough times in our nation. Our society is rotting from within and we are now reaping what we’ve sown. However, now is not the time to wring our hands and gnash our teeth. Let us live the life worthy of the name Christian and show a dying world the answer to eternal life.
Remember to wisely redeem the time given to you, because somebody is watching you.
In Christ
Dave
Ps. 37:4
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Copyright © 2014 David Jeffers
Tags
Bible, Culture, Faith, Grace, Guilt, Holy Spirit, Revival, Sin, Truth, Wisdom
