The following was written by John Charles Ryle (1816 – 1900) in his book “Thoughts for Young Men”.
In this final part I want to share from J. C. Ryle, he reminds us of a VERY important truth that we many times don’t stop to think about.
PART THREE:
…………… QUOTED FROM RYLE ……………
Resolve never to forget the eye of God.
The eye of God! Think of that. Everywhere, in every house, in every field, in every room, in every company, alone or in a crowd, the eye of God is always upon you. “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good” (Pro 15:3), and they are eyes that read hearts as well as actions.
Endeavor, I beseech you all, to realize this fact. Recollect that you have to do with an all-seeing God, a God who never slumbers nor sleeps (Psa 121:4), a God who understands your thoughts afar off, and with whom the night shines as the day (Psa 139:2, 12). You may leave your father’s roof and go away like the prodigal into a far country (Luk 15:13), and think that there is nobody to watch your conduct; but the eye and ear of God are there before you. You may deceive your parents or employers; you may tell them falsehoods, and be one thing before their faces and another behind their backs, but you cannot deceive God. He knows you through and through. He heard what you said as you came here today. He knows what you are thinking of at this minute. He has set your most secret sins in the light of His countenance, and they will one day come out before the world to your shame, except you take heed (1Co 4:5).
How little is this really felt! How many things are done continually, which men would never do if they thought they were seen! How many matters are transacted in the chambers of imagination, which would never bear the light of day! Yes; men entertain thoughts in private, and say words in private, and do acts in private, which they would be ashamed and blush to have exposed before the world. The sound of a footstep coming has stopped many a deed of wickedness. A knock at the door has caused many an evil work to be hastily suspended and hurriedly laid aside. But oh, what miserable driveling folly is all this! There is an all-seeing Witness with us wherever we go. Lock the door, draw down the blind, shut the shutters, put out the candle; it matters not; it makes no difference. God is everywhere; you cannot shut Him out, or prevent His seeing. “All things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do” (Heb 4:13). Well did young Joseph understand this when his master’s wife tempted him. There was no one in the house to see them, no human eye to witness against him. But Joseph was one who lived as seeing Him that is invisible: “How can I do this great wickedness,” said he, “and sin against God?” (Gen 39:9).
I ask you all to read Psalm 139. I advise you all to learn it by heart. Make it the test of all your dealings in this world’s business: say to yourself often, “Do I remember that God sees me?” Live as in the sight of God. This is what Abraham did; he walked before Him. This is what Enoch did; he walked with Him. This is what heaven itself will be, the eternal presence of God. Do nothing you would not like God to see. Say nothing you would not like God to hear. Write nothing you would not like God to read. Go to no place where you would not like God to find you. Read no book of which you would not like God to say, “Show it Me.” Never spend your time in such a way that you would not like to have God say, “What art thou doing?”
…………… END QUOTED FROM RYLE ……………
One of the verses in the Psalm that Ryle asks us to read is a great reminder, “You know when I sit down and when I rise up; You understand my thought from afar.” (Psalm 139:2) God knows everything about us. He knows our thoughts, or intentions, when we harbor ill feelings towards others, all our actions, etc., That ALONE should make us think twice about what we do and say. People in the world today get all worried about the government “watching” our every move it seems. However, we should be more thoughtful about GOD watching and knowing our every move.
I can’t say it any better than Ryle in the last paragraph: “Do nothing you would not like God to see. Say nothing you would not like God to hear. Write nothing you would not like God to read. Go to no place where you would not like God to find you. Read no book of which you would not like God to say, “Show it Me.” Never spend your time in such a way that you would not like to have God say, ‘What art thou doing?'”