Constant Survelliance

Once there was a pastor who was such a golf addict that one Sunday he called in sick and went golfing instead about an hour down the road. Two angels were above him on the golf course, discussing the situation. One angel said, “You just wait. I’m gonna punish him good for this.” The other angel just floated back to see what would happen. The pastor stepped up to the first tee where he promptly whacked the ball 300 yards straight down the middle of the fairway. Since he had never driven the ball more than 200 yards, he couldn’t believe it. Yet, there it was. And his luck continued. Long drives on every hole, perfect putting. By the ninth hole he was six under par and was playing near-perfect golf. The fellow was walking on air. He wound up with an amazing 61, about 30 strokes under his usual game. The one angel looked at the other and said, “Wait a minute. I thought you were going to punish him.” The other angel smiled and said, “That is punishment. I mean, who’s he gonna tell?” Sometimes you just can’t get away with anything!

I think you would agree that we are living in a world of constant surveillance…surveillance cameras are everywhere. IN fact, this is becoming a big issue concerning our privacy and freedom in this country.

· Everywhere you go today you are being watched…you go to the grocery story, your local bank, the convenience store, shopping mall, your favorite retailers, evening walking down many streets…surveillance cameras are literally everywhere! And pretty much everyone has a cell phone today and video you in seconds!

· One of the big controversies that’s been going on concerns what is going on with the NSA (National Security Agency) with the discovery that they are collecting data on everything you and I are doing - phone conversations, texts, emails – and they’re storing them all in a big data system!

· Some crimes have been solved because of surveillance cameras – in fact they were instrumental in eventually identifying the Boston Marathon bombers…that was a positive thing but it has raised the issue of us being watched at every move and our personal freedoms being taken away.

Never before in the history of the world have you been more watched…or has there been another time?

Turn with me to Proverbs 5:21 and let’s see what it has to say this morning…

Proverbs 5:21 NASB95

For the ways of a man are before the eyes of the Lord, And He watches all his paths.

Here you and I learn a very important/significant truth: GOD SEES EVERYTHING YOU DO!

- There’s nothing that escapes His attention! His view! His scrutiny! His watchful eye!

And because God sees everything you do…there are 5 things you need to do. Number 1…

1. Guard your feet – places you go, people you run with.

- Prov. 4:26-27 : “Watch the path of your feet And all your ways will be established. Do not turn to the right nor to the left; Turn your foot from evil.”

- Ps. 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.”

2. Guard your eyes – things you watch, things you read – Job said in Job 31:1 “I have made a covenant with my eyes;”

3. Guard your hands – things you touch, the things you reach for, the things you become involved in.

- Prov. 12:14: “A man will be satisfied with good by the fruit of his words, And the deeds of a man's hands will return to him.”

- James 4:8: “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded.”

4. Guard your tongue – things you say, the things that come out of your mouth

- Prov. 21:23: “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.”

- Ps 39:1: “I will guard my ways That I may not sin with my tongue.”

5. Guard your heart – things you think (dwell) on…let in your mind and soul…

- Phi 4:8-9: “Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Conclusion

A few years ago a mother became very concerned about speeding drivers going past a local elementary school. So she decided she would take action and do something about it. So every morning she would park her car in front of the elementary school and point her black hair dryer - shaped like a radar gun, out of the window at speeding cars. The effect was dramatic as drivers slowed down fearing they might receive a speeding ticket. She put some fear in them…and it worked!

Well, you and I need the fear of the Lord put in us…Understand today: God is watching you! He sees everything you do! So guard your feet…eyes…hands…tongue…and heart!