Leaving Beyond – Grounded In Scripture

Written by: April J. Buchanan

“The Lord knows.” “The Lord sees.” “God’s got me.”

Consider the beauty of these words on the lips of those who speak them rightly. How they honor God. How they express trust in His perfect knowledge, His righteous judgment, and His faithful care for His people.

Now consider how often these same words are found on the lips of those who have done what is wicked before God and against others, yet invoke His name in their own defense. How much worse is it for such as these?

The Lord does know. He does see. And He will act righteously.

Be careful of the man who has no fear of calling upon the Lord to defend him in his wickedness. Men who habitually lie often have no fear of God. They readily claim that God knows their hearts and sees the truth, seeking to place themselves in the position of righteousness while portraying those they have wronged as the villains.

Yet God does see.

Liars speak the native tongue of their father, the devil. Their hearts are set upon wickedness and falsehood. Though they invoke God’s name in their defense, He is not with them in their sin. Whether those they have wronged belong to Christ or not, God sees, and He judges righteously.

Unless this truth pierces their hearts and they are brought to genuine repentance and faith, they will continue in their self-justifications, convincing themselves that their evil is good and that God stands with them in it. They may not fear Him now, but they shall.

There is comfort here for the one who has been falsely accused, slandered, or mistreated. The Lord knows. The Lord sees. No lie escapes His notice. No injustice is hidden from His sight. His judgment is perfect, and His righteousness cannot be corrupted.

Yet there is also a warning for us. We must be careful what we say in God’s name, especially as His children. We know Him, and we represent Him before the world. We must not assume that because we belong to Him, we are always right, or that our words, thoughts, motives, and actions are automatically pleasing to Him.

The Lord does not defend our sin because we are His people. He disciplines those whom He loves. Therefore let us be quick to examine ourselves, slow to justify ourselves, and eager to repent where repentance is needed. Let us never presume upon God’s name to defend what He condemns.

The Lord knows. The Lord sees. And that truth is either a comfort or a warning.