An innocent snap?

Picture taken from http://www.firsttabletpc.com/category/computer-tablet

“A stolen tablet computer has taken a picture of a man police wish to speak to in connection with its theft. The Samsung device was taken from a house in Winterbourne Close in Lewes, East Sussex, last month, police said. It was linked to the owner's Google account and when he checked it, a picture of a man reclining in bed popped up”. This partly amusing story appeared on the BBC News website. Although the idea that a house has been broken into and property stolen is far from amusing, the fact that the new “owner” has been photographed in his own home is funny. He clearly didn’t realize the power of modern communications gadgets!

If the new owner was the person who stole the tablet computer he could be in for a nasty surprise. If the new owner was someone who unwisely bought the tablet computer then he is going to lose the money he paid. But there is a more important aspect to this story. How much of what we do is being recorded? That innocent snap on the tablet computer has now been displayed to millions through a news web site. Perhaps there are things that we thought that no one had seen which are actually recorded somewhere on CCTV records.

The story reminded me of a very important but often neglected verse in the Bible: “be sure your sin will find you out”. Many of us do things wrong. In the so-called “big picture” they may not be that serious but, overall, we carry on, thinking that no one has noticed. Ever driven at more than 70 mph on the motorway? Ever broken God’s law by knowingly telling a lie? There is a commonly held view that if no one is hurt then it doesn’t really matter. The Bible tells us that it does matter and that God is keeping an account. Everything that others may not hear and see is recorded by God. One day we could be held to account by God. The verdict is obvious: guilty!

The good news is that God has provided a Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ. In His Son, God provided someone who was willing to take my place and die in my stead. He was willing to bear the punishment for my sin that I might go free. What about you? Is Jesus Christ your Saviour, or, in the day of judgement, will your sin find you out?