Also now, behold, my witness is in heaven, and my record is on high. — Job 16:19
We often talk about our records in this life. You may hear people talk about criminal records, driving records, health records, or even school records. While I certainly knew a lot of these things existed, I never really considered them in great detail until we went through the adoption of our son.
We had to go through multiple types of record checks. One was with the FBI, where they dove into our criminal records. On another occasion, we had to go to a doctor’s appointment and review our medical records. The doctor had to issue a statement saying we were healthy enough to go through with the adoption.
Then we had the social record. This is where we had to get friends and family to write letters supporting our background and adoption. There were countless conversations, documents, and supporting documents that we had to submit, all to support who we were. We had told everyone who we were, but we had to prove our record.
We often share with others that we are Christians. We will often share the title as a badge of honor. But what would our spiritual record say? If we were to pull the record that is on high for our life, would it confirm what we claim to be? We can certainly tell others we are Christians, but the records of God prove what is truly in our hearts.
We are not able to cheat God’s record system. If we want to claim that we are Christians, we should strive to live like Christians. It isn’t just a title to claim. It is a commitment to live. As you reflect today, what does your record say about you?
Jared Dyson
Another Well Ministries
It is a hurdle, for sure. I have learned to pray for them, vigorously, I pray that their hearts are turned. "Turning it over" to God when I find myself ruminating or letting them live in my head rent free. I try to separate ideology from the person or people. I can strongly dislike an ideology, but try to separate it from those who hold an idea. However, if there is a person or people enforcing an ideology that is against my Faith, I can refuse to comply to anything that is not under God's laws. I also pray to be protected from false and evil trends. God knows my heart because HE created it, HE gave me a conscience, so I remember to take my own inventory. God knows I did wrong, I have sinned, I did things and thought things and said things that require his forgiveness. It took maturity to amend my life, I was a wild thing, but HE loved me enough to force change. At night sometimes I am haunted with memories of how much time I wasted in sin, "for things I have done, and things that I have left undone". All I can do is confess and pray for mercy, as I ask for forgiveness I must practice forgiveness for others, it's all right there in The Lord's Prayer. The day I think I am better or holier than anyone else, I have started a slippery slope.