Maybe you remember the book The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald? You probably suffered through that book in High School or Jr High as required summer reading. It’s a book filled with all sorts of sin and ungodly living. But in those dark and sinful activities, there’s this advertisement for an optometry clinic, a billboard image of eyes wearing gold-rimmed glasses. Throughout the story, Fitzgerald draws the reader back to that billboard as a way of saying that all man’s activity happens under the eyes of God. Nothing is hidden from the eyes of God. What a reminder!
Knowing God sees our activities is an excellent reminder to God’s people. In 2 Timothy 4:1, we receive our commission from the Lord himself, “I charge you in the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and by his appearing and his kingdom.” Feel the weight of those words? This commission is not only a father giving his last words to a son; this is a commission before the Lord! It is a reminder that all of our life and ministry happens under the watchful eye of God. And those serious thoughts ought to fuel our desire to please our master—that one day we will see him face to face. We watch for his appearance. This word for his “appearing” in verse 1 is “epiphaneia” in the Greek. It was a word used for the appearance of a Greek god in pagan mythology. However, it was regularly used when the Emperor came to town. When word got out that the Emperor was on his way, everything was put into perfect order; streets were swept, and work was finished. In other words, watchful people got busy preparing to receive their King!
So how can we hear and start living out our commission? First, we have to remember that God sees. Then, we have to anticipate his appearance. When we genuinely recognize those facts, evangelism, inviting neighbors to Church, and reaching people with the gospel begins to come more quickly. Dear friend, today, put on this conviction: God sees your labors, and He’s coming soon.