Thursday, March 14, 2013

What Would the Police Find? by Craig Hill


What Would the Police Find Out about Us?


If you were killed and the police investigated your murder, what would they find out about you? Would they think you were a good person devoted to God, or not?

First they’d interview the people that knew you well - the people closest to you.  They’d ask, “Did he have any enemies?”  Who would want to kill you?  Have you wronged someone and you haven’t made it right?  Mathew 5:22-25 says:

But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment.  Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court.  And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell.

“Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you,  leave your gift there in front of the altar.  First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift.

“Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court.  Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison.  26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny.

What does God think of the relationships in your life?  If someone hates you it may indicate that you did something wrong that needs fixing.  Don’t wait.  Go fix it.  Treat people right so they don’t hate you.

Next the police would say, “What vices did she have?  Was he dealing drugs?  Did she steal money?  Did he cheat on his wife?”  Why do they investigate these things?  Because if you play with fire you are likely to get burned.  Proverbs 6 says:

Can a man scoop fire into his lap

without his clothes being burned?

Can a man walk on hot coals

without his feet being scorched?

So is he who sleeps with another man’s wife;

no one who touches her will go unpunished.

People do not despise a thief if he steals

to satisfy his hunger when he is starving.

Yet if he is caught, he must pay sevenfold,

though it costs him all the wealth of his house.

But a man who commits adultery has no sense;

whoever does so destroys himself.

Blows and disgrace are his lot,

and his shame will never be wiped away.

For jealousy arouses a husband’s fury,

and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge.

He will not accept any compensation;

he will refuse a bribe, however great it is.

What does God see when he looks at what you do when no one is looking?  If you are doing something really sinful, it’s going to catch up to you.  Stop it now.  Repent!

Next the police would say, “Let’s check out her financials affairs?”  They’d look at your bank statements and check book.  They’d look at your credit card statements.  They’d look at what you spent your money on?  Did you spend money or receive money doing righteous things or sinful things?  What would they find?  Matthew 6 says:

“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

“The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

“No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

What does God see when he looks at how you manage your money?  If you spend it on earthly foolish things, and you don’t give to build up treasures in heaven, then you may need to take a Dave Ramsey course (go to www.daveramsey.com). 

Next the police would say, “Let’s check out his calendar.”  They’d want to know who you spent your time with and what you did all day.  Did you visit someone in the hospital, or did you go someplace nasty?

Proverbs 2 says:

Surely her house leads down to death

and her paths to the spirits of the dead.

None who go to her return

or attain the paths of life.

Thus you will walk in the ways of the good

and keep to the paths of the righteous.

Where does God see you going and what does He see you doing?  Okay, you get the point.  The police investigating your life is sort of like God’s all seeing eyes.  God knows all and sees all.  Our behaviors indicate the pattern of our heart, what we love, what we value, and ultimately what we worship.  Do we love the Lord our God with all our heart and with all our soul and with all our mind?  

And what can we do to improve the answers to all these questions?

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