Letter To Our Children
by Pastor Joe | January 5, 2022 | Letters To Our Children
January 5, 2022
Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
Psalm 139:7
The Chinese Chongqing has the largest number of surveillance cameras than any other city in the world for its population. It has 2.58 million cameras covering 15.35 million people. That is something like one camera for every six people!
Sometimes our minds can go right to the possibilities of the bad parts of being watched so much by the authorities. Right now, nations around the world are working through the limitations of surveillance cameras and privacy rights, creating laws and standards. But there can be some good.
For example, video footage of bad people doing very bad things has brought those people to justice. China, Britain, America, and every nation in the world that uses surveillance cameras have benefitted from them.
I am more aware now than I ever have been of surveillance cameras. They can make me feel safe at times. They also can make me behave. I am not sure about you, but I know I can lose my temper and lack self-control. I can say and do some very foolish things. Knowing someone is watching helps me. I really don’t want to bring dishonor to God publicly, and surveillance cameras can help me to be mindful that not only God is watching me, but other people are too.
The Psalmist tells us that God, the Maker of heaven and earth, of everyone, and everything always sees all things. Think of it. There is not one second God does not know what we are doing. Instead of one camera for every six people, like it is in Chongqing, it is one God watching everyone.
How is this possible? God is Spirit, He doesn’t have a body like you and me. God is infinite, eternal, and unchangeable. He is all wisdom, all power, all holiness, justice, goodness, and truth.
Because God is a Spirit, His presence is always with you. For the Psalmist and every Christian, this is a very comforting and peaceful truth. Some other religions and sometimes sadly some churches teach that if you are going to be in God’s presence; then you are going to have to do some religious work, or many works to earn it. Christianity says no such thing.
Some of what Christianity does say is:
God always sees all people. He never sleeps. He doesn’t need rest as we do. He doesn’t need electricity as cameras do. He always knows what we are doing.
He also knows why we are doing it. He can see what surveillance cameras cannot see—the intentions of our hearts. Meaning sometimes we do bad things because we are just being bad. However, sometimes we do good things, not for good reasons, but, for bad reasons. God sees and knows both.
Christ has done all that was necessary for us to be in God’s presence forever. Which is how the Bible describes eternal life—life in unbroken fellowship with God (John 17:3).
This means we cannot earn the right to be in God’s presence. Jesus, by His suffering and death for our sins on the cross, has. For through Him (Christ) we both have access to the Father by one Spirit (Ephesians 3:16-18).
You see, it is one thing to be watched by God, it is quite another to be in God’s presence. If you are a Christian, you are in God’s presence always. This is a great comfort and privilege. Sometimes God can seem far away, but He is not. The Bible tells us so.
I am with you always, to the very end of the age.
Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.
If you are not a Christian, then what is true now will be true for all eternity, if you remain as you are. Please don’t remain as you are.
Happy New Year!
Pastor Joe
P.S. if you are not a Christian here is something I hope will help you. Becoming a Christian.