God Doesn't Need a CCTV Camera!

Scripture Reading: John 4:1-42

Focus Verses John 4: 16-19

[16]He told her, “Go, call your husband and come back.”

[17]“I have no husband,” she replied. Jesus said to her, “You are right when you say you have no husband.

[18]The fact is, you have had five husbands, and the man you now have is not your husband. What you have just said is quite true.”

[19]“Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet.

Today as I traveled in a public water vessel in Lake Victoria Kenya called "waterbus", my attention was drawn to a warning in the vessel written "CCTV operating in this vessel". I will be right to say that CCTV (surveillance) cameras are today part of installations in most public and private places. All are for a common purpose of helping you to keep an eye on what's going on around your area or business. The CCTV records a live video that you can watch later to help you know what took place around you and in so doing it keep a check on security and operations. People tend to behave decent where these cameras are installed. Some evil people opt to vandalize them before they commit their evil acts with since they don't want their deeds be recorded. These cameras never lie, they record events right as they happen and when they happen. In this world with many things happening around us, they have helped to bring some sanity. 

In the passage we read, Jesus meets this Samaritan lady. In their conversation, Jesus asks her to go bring her husband. I believe Jesus, being God, knew exactly that this lady didn't have a husband but wanted to test her. She honestly reply to Jesus that she didn't have a husband. Jesus tells her that she is right and He went further to tell the woman that she has had  five husbands even the man she was living with, was not her husband. At that point that lady realizes that the One she was talking to had a clear "video" of her life and knows her inside and out. She finally tells Jesus these sweet words, "I can see you are a prophet" signifying that, "you know all about me". 

Sometimes people have behaved like nobody is watching their actions. We plot evil and commit evil with the pretence that nobody is watching or hearing what we say. The world today would choose to behave decent where CCTV cameras are installed but fail to understand that God is beyond these cameras and is recording all we do or say. He doesn't need a CCTV camera to record our actions. He sees everything and records it all and on the last day everybody will be brought to answer their deeds. Christians, we don't need a CCTV in order to act well. As Paul states in Romans 12:2, we must not conform to the standards of this world but we be transformed by renewing of our minds. When the heart is changed, people will be self controlled and will do what's right even when nobody is watching. 

It's too hurting that our government invests heavily in CCTV cameras than on the gospel of salvation. I believe that if we can invest in the gospel and reach out to many for salvation then we will not need the much surveillance cameras that we see today. The rate of their installation is an indication that sin is taking a grip of many people. Can you imagine working in an atmosphere where you are your own surveillance camera? Where people do what's right even when nobody is watching? Where the Word of God is given a priority to guide our lives? That's the world we need! Until then, we must hit the road and preach the gospel. I have loved the passion of Interlocking Ministries towards reaching the lost with the gospel of salvation. Investing in the gospel is a sure way to self controlled individuals. Let's be reminded that God doesn't need a CCTV to see our actions but has His eyes on everything we do. We may vandalize the CCTV cameras installed but God's camera cannot be vandalized. It's all recorded. Equally, you don't need to vandalize the evidence of your sins if you realize you are wrong. Jesus has paid the price, His blood can rub it all, you need to come to Him for the forgiveness of your sins. He forgives and never remembers any of them. Come to Him for your forgive and salvation.

 

Eliazar Wambo

Director of Bethesda Faith Ministries, Kenya