Morning Devotional

July 14, 2003

“Paparazzi”  

by Don Emmitte

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For the LORD sees clearly what a man does, examining every path he takes. An evil man is held captive by his own sins; they are ropes that catch and hold him. He will die for lack of self-control; he will be lost because of his incredible folly. (Proverbs 5:21-23 NLV).

Perhaps the most famous of all photojournalists are the paparazzi. They are most famous for their celebrity photographs. They are not alone however. The prying lenses of celebrity photographers seem to be everywhere, trying to capture a picture of someone famous doing something outrageous, something sensational, something lurid. Of course, when it comes to our lives, we want privacy with no intrusive cameras capturing moments we would rather not have everyone know about.

Actually, there is such a "camera" trained on our life at all times. In the Bible in Psalm 139, one man says, "O Lord, You have searched me and You know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; You perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down." Then the sobering bottom line-written by a spiritual leader who thought no one knew about his secret act of adultery - "You are familiar with all my ways." David learned that there is nothing we do that is missed - or forgotten - by God.

Solomon put it this way - "A man's ways are in full view of the Lord" (Proverbs 5:21). It is obvious from what God says He knows about you and me that there is no such thing as getting away with any sin. Sooner or later, we will face it head on - with all its consequences. In fact, God puts it this way - "Be sure your sin will find you out" (Numbers 32:23). You might say, "Well, it hasn't yet." Key word: yet. Judgment delayed is not judgment canceled.

It is so great to be able to live in such a way that it doesn't matter what someone overhears, films, tapes, or discovers. It is wonderful to live without worrying about what's coming up behind you in your rear view mirror. When you live with integrity, you have no fear of discovery. And that is freedom! God's eternal judgment is going to be based on His total knowledge of everything we've ever thought, ever said, ever done. There will be no secrets on judgment day. The picture God will show on the screen that day will include everything. For a lot of us, the accumulated guilt of a lifetime of sins is, if we will acknowledge it, an almost crushing weight. It would appear we don't stand a chance with a holy God - not after all we've done. But, thank God, there is a way to have that tell-all film destroyed once and for all. Imagine being free of that guilt, of that shame, of the eternal punishment that sin calls for. Imagine knowing that the gates of heaven will be flung wide open for you when you die. It can happen to you. To think that Jesus absorbed all the guilt and all the hell of all those sins when He died on the cross - that is overwhelming love. He waits right now to pour out that love on you. Trust Him!