God is Watching

The recent start of the football season has brought to my memory an event which occurred years ago while I was working as support staff for The University of Alabama Football team. It was the mid-90’s, meaning that the legendary Gene Stallings was at the helm. It was just a couple of years removed from the team’s winning of a national championship, and Coach Stallings was as revered as he was feared by players and staff alike. My responsibilities at the time included working with the special teams players—kickers, punters, and long snappers. This involved endless repetition of extra point tries, field goal attempts, punting kicks. However, every day’s practice included a short period in which the entire team (including Coach Stallings) would walk to the special teams practice field for the purpose of running through various drills.

One particular kicker tended to be rather consistent in his attempts throughout daily practices…except for the periods in which the entire team, including Coach Stallings, would be paying close attention. After several attempts and misses, Coach Stallings pulled the kicker aside to determine exactly why he was performing so poorly. In his typical low drawl, Stallings sarcastically described that the one job of the field goal kicker is to push the football over the crossbar and between the upright goal posts. Then came his question to the struggling kicker.

“Son, why can you not make the field goal?”

The response from the kicker was one I will never forget. It is memorable for its stark honesty…or ridiculous stupidity.

“Coach, I seem to do well through most of the practice. But whenever you come to watch me kick, I get nervous.”

Coach Stallings matter-of-factly replied, “Well, son, I have some bad news. I plan on attending every ballgame this season.”

In the Old Testament, the prophet seer Hanani would instruct King Asa, “For the eyes of the LORD run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward him” (2 Chronicles 16:9). While many may falsely believe that God is watching their lives in order to condemn, the Scriptures clearly encourage us that God watches our lives closely so that He would find trust and obedience toward Him. Without question, each of us will be judged for our rebellion. However, we are given ample opportunity to turn to Him for His mercy.

In the New Testament, Paul provides a unique picture of the final judgment. However, it is not God’s judgment of unbelievers, but of His followers. In fact, the context suggests that it is the judgment of those who serve in the local church. Note the vision that is given.

According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw— each one’s work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. (1 Corinthians 3:10-13)

The foundation of the church is Jesus Christ. Every follower of Christ is forgiven and saved by Him. He is the source and the goal of our faith. However, those who serve in the local church are, by God’s grace, working alongside Him in order to build up the body of Christ. While they will not be judged for their sins (since the believer’s sins have already been judged in the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross), they will be held accountable for their service to the church.

As followers of Christ, each of us has been gifted and called by Him to serve in the church. Because this is true, we will be judged by Him according to our faithfulness. The question we must ponder is, “What materials are we using to build up God’s people?” As we pass through the absolute judgment of our faithfulness to God, will it be revealed that we worked toward those things that have eternal significance, or will our work be burned up as inconsequential? It can be difficult to know the difference between these things, especially since everything in our flesh seeks accolades today, rather than patiently awaiting God’s reward for tomorrow.

I have found a particular question of my motivations and activities helpful as I wade through the daily decisions of how to use my time and resources most for the glory of God. It is just this:

In 100 years from this very moment, will what I am doing or what I am pursuing matter at all?

Think how many things in our lives seem so critical today, yet in just 100 years (a relatively short time compared to eternity), those things will be completely insignificant. Of course, this does not imply that the daily routines of work, paying bills, or seemingly mundane responsibilities is not important. Rather, we should ask ourselves for what end we do these tasks? Is it to glorify God? Are we investing in relationships? Are we building upon the foundation of Jesus Christ so that others might also come to know Him? These things are the “gold, silver, and precious stones” that will pass the fires of judgment. Or, are we only seeking our own comfort? Do we use people to secure things for ourselves? Are we living in such a way that eternity is never in view? These things are “wood, hay, and straw” and will most certainly be incinerated in judgment.

Don’t be foolish. God is most certainly watching your life. Our actions, motivations, decisions, and words will be judged. Yet, for those in Christ, we know that our Judge is also our Justifier (Romans 3:26). By the grace He gives daily, we can live a life that counts for eternity. Through our service to God’s people in the church, we can stand confidently before our Savior, trusting that His assessment of our lives will be full of mercy. We can look to an eternal reward that will surpass whatever sacrifices must be made. How? Because He is watching us, giving strong support so that we can be faithful!

Jason