Proverbs 15:3

Have you ever watched the sci-fi crime television series, “Person of Interest?” Throughout its’ five seasons, John Reese, an ex-CIA agent and Finch, a wealthy software genius work to save lives before tragedy strikes. The storyline in every episode follows a similar pattern. The software Finch created pairs with the city’s surveillance and predicts the future giving these two men the opportunity to prevent violent crimes from happening before they occur.

A few years back, Sara and I were hooked on the show. I’m not sure what it is, but we tend to be drawn to TV series’ on crime, perhaps it’s the suspense or maybe it’s trying to figure out who committed the crime before those who investigate the scene in the show. But “Person of Interest” stood out to me for a totally different reason--the realistic fiction of how the software Finch created, utilized existing surveillance to predict future events.

I’m not sure if you are aware or not, but in most public places, cameras are watching and recording your every move. Surveillance cameras are everywhere. Sometimes those recordings provide some great entertainment, but for the most part, those cameras are put in place to capture someone in the act of a crime. Let’s face it. The minute you walk into a grocery or department store or through the hallway of your kids’ school or even filling up your gas tank at your local gas station, make sure you smile because you are on camera. Now, I’m not trying to freak you out. That’s not the point of this at all. But this does set-up a discussion of how believers and non-believers view Proverbs 15:3:

“The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.”

I think what comes to mind when we consider the truth that God is watching us is an omnipresent surveillance of cameras and I suppose to some extent, that’s true. He doesn’t miss anything. Because of that, we might be tempted to call it “terrifying” and perhaps it would be if you were out of step with God and His ways. If you are acting out in rebellion against God, then yeah, I think that would be a terrifying scenario. God does see all--both good and evil. All throughout Scripture, we read that God will deal with evil and He will. Knowing He is watching, serves as accountability to the life that He has given you.

But I think what I struggle with is how unnerving it makes believers. You, see, God also sees good and has promised to bless and reward good. If you are walking in step with God, this verse should bring great comfort. God is watching us--not to upload the video files of our wrongs to His eternal hard drive--but because He is so in love with us that He doesn’t want to take His eyes off of us. He never loses sight of us. He listens to us. He sees us in our struggles, our pain and our suffering. He gives us His loving attention and no one is so insignificant as to be ignored by our Creator. Are you reading this? This is beautiful.

Knowing this should motivate us to do what is right, rather than paralyze us with fear. I think that was Souter’s position and perhaps why this verse was circled in his Bible.

If you have heard stories about Souter or knew him personally, chances are you encountered him at some point hauling kids in a wagon or apple truck to church or for a Vacation Bible School. While I’m uncertain if it was on one of those trips or maybe just a hay ride with some campers from camp, but regardless, as they were driving down the road, he stopped the truck and got out. He then walked over to a piece of glass in the middle of the road, picked it up and got back in the truck and continued on his way. Later, someone asked him, “Souter, why did you stop and pick up that piece of glass?” He responded by quoting James 4:17, “Therefore to him that knoweth to do good, and doeth it not, to him it is sin.”

While he knew it was true, I don’t think Souter was bothered by the truth that God sees all. He simply decided to do good. In fact, I think his understanding of it all brought him comfort and served as encouragement. Souter’s actions remind me of my daughter, Aubrey, learning to ride her bike. Over the past few days, I have heard the words, “Watch me, daddy.” She wanted me to “see her” and celebrate with her as she began to peddle forward. I think It’s a lot like that. Souter’s desire to do good was rooted in a heart ready to please God. A heart committed to a gracious and loving Father and a heart at peace because the God of the universe was watching over him.