William McKinley was a Congressman before he was elected the 25th President of the United States. One day, while on his way to his congressional office, he boarded a streetcar and took the only remaining seat. Minutes later, a woman, who appeared to be ill, boarded the car. Unable to find a seat, she clutched an overhead strap next to one of McKinley’s fellow congressmen. The other congressman hid behind his newspaper and did not offer his seat to the woman. After seeing this, McKinley offered his seat to the poor woman, and took her place standing in the aisle.
Several years later, when McKinley became President of the United States, the same congressman was recommended for a post as ambassador to a foreign nation. McKinley refused to appoint the Congressman. The president feared that a man who did not have the courtesy to offer his seat to a sick woman in a crowded streetcar would lack the courtesy and sensitivity necessary to be an ambassador in a troubled nation.
That congressman probably never even knew that McKinley had seen his selfish actions on that streetcar many years prior, but his actions had a consequence even if the consequence was years later. And likewise, all of our actions have consequences. We may feel like we can just do whatever we want, we don’t have to care about whether we’re obeying God or ignoring what we know is true and right. We often think, “well, I’m just having fun.” or, “I don’t have to do that…no one will know!” However, God sees EVERYTHING we do, and KNOWS even the thoughts and intentions of our hearts.
The Bible warns us in Proverbs 28:13, “He who conceals his transgressions will not prosper, But he who confesses and forsakes them will find compassion.” When we try to hide our wrong doing, or when we think it doesn’t matter how we act – we’re wrong! God promises that if we willingly disobey Him and His Word, we will NOT be successful in our lives as Christians. But, He says when we CONFESS and FORSAKE our sins and learn to do right, we have his compassion and mercy.
Like that congressman who had no idea someone was watching his actions on that streetcar, we many times forget that God sees and knows EVERYTHING we do. We may be out of town and none of our friends or family are around – but GOD is still there!