Matthew 12:36 – As I was saying…

I know many people who really love the comedic humor of The Big Bang Theory (hereafter called TBBT). At the end of every episode Chuck Lorre Productions posts a text image containing what might be called “Final Thoughts.” Some of these thoughts are very humorous, some are just trite, and some leave you shaking your head saying “What?” This is the graphic image of the show that aired 10-25-2018. Take just a couple of moments to read it, then scroll down to see why I believe you ought to be careful what you pray for…

I was lucky enough to have recorded this episode of TBBT, so it was easy to stop the recording at just the right time to snap this shot with my mobile device.

So, here’s the thing. This seemed awfully sacrilegious to me at first. I’ve watched every episode of this sitcom, and laughed uproariously almost every time, since these writers truly capture the essence of human behavior and relationships. Then I had to stop and think for a minute.

On first glance the whole thing looks contrived and sarcastic. The parenthetic statement in the first line says it all. And, I’m pretty sure after reading $598, that the writer has no idea who God really is. However, God’s word says that each human being past, present or future will be accountable for words like these.

Matthew 12:36
But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.

I have a hard time believing that the author of this image is “humbly beseeching God” I also see him as more like Herod when Jesus stood before the king, where the king’s attitude is curious, and wants to be entertained.

Luke 23:8
Now Herod was very glad when he saw Jesus; for he had wanted to see Him for a long time, because he had been hearing about Him and was hoping to see some sign performed by Him.

No one reading Lorre’s statement could mistake his description in the third sentence as anything but a very caustic diatribe against the current President of the USA. Simply adding the phrase, “… then, you know, thy will be done…” is not a magic mantra conjured up to get God to do man’s bidding.

Then I thought, “let’s view this from God’s perspective.”

God is omniscient (all-knowing), omnipresent (here even when we don’t see Him), and omnipotent (all-powerful). Knowing these attributes of God, it’s possible when God heard, or saw these words being formed that He laughed out loud too.

Psalm 37:13
The Lord laughs at him, for He sees his day is coming.

What if this particular prayer (if we can really call it that), may actually be what God intends to do. God put our President in place, so God must intend President Trump to be in that position until God replaces him, and not by men with an axe to grind.

Romans 13:1
Every person is to be in subjection to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and those which exist are established by God.

Certainly in a very general sense, God wants to bless all of humanity with His goodness.

Matthew 5:45
…for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Whether it’s Bob Mueller or some other bloke, God blesses all of us in a general sense by just allowing us to exist!

But my favorite part of #598 is the very last thought. I wonder if Lorre understands that these “careless words” are being recorded in heaven, and the Old Testament wrath that he invokes is closer than ever before. Maybe he could use a little reminder of God’s sovereignty, as much as any of those who took the time to read his prayer.

I’m just saying… be careful what you pray for… God might want the exact same things… just not like you said it, or expected it.

via Record

An obituary typically consists of a brief biographical sketch of the deceased person from the vantage point of a friend or relative. The view received from this information is still an earthly view. While it may have a spiritual synopsis of the person’s life, often it is more about the nature of their character, the sum of past achievements, genealogy, etc. I know a few folks who still read the newspapers, whose favorite section is the Obituaries, because they like reading these short biographies of those who have passed.

obituaries

Some people might even see this tribute as the “scorecard” for a life. However, keeping score this way may not necessarily be the healthiest approach to life here or the hereafter. If we are going to keep score, we might want to think more along the lines of what God keeps recorded in our eternal dossier. Of course, this assumes you know that God does keep records of some things, and those things are defined for us in the Bible. Allow me to give you a list of ten things God records, or has recorded over time; and will record until human history is over.

God records and stores all the tears we shed.
Psalm 56:8
You Yourself have recorded my wanderings. Put my tears in Your bottle. Are they not in Your records?
God records my birth, my life, my death in days – before it happens.
Psalm 139:16
Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.
God records the number of the stars and keeps record of their names.
Psalm 147:4
He counts the number of the stars; He gives names to all of them.
God keeps a Book of Remembrance of those who regard His name.
Malachi 3:16
At that time those who feared the LORD spoke to one another. The LORD took notice and listened. So a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who feared Yahweh and had high regard for His name.
God keeps track of people’s heavenly investments.
Matthew 6:20
But collect for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves don’t break in and steal.
God records the number of hairs on an individual human head.
Matthew 10:30
But even the hairs of your head have all been counted.
God records every idle word a person speaks.
Matthew 12:36
I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak.
God records every Godly work of a person.
Hebrews 6:10
For God is not unjust; He will not forget your work and the love you showed for His name when you served the saints–and you continue to serve them.
God records the general life of all humans.
Revelation 20:12
I also saw the dead, the great and the small, standing before the throne, and books were opened. Another book was opened, which is the book of life, and the dead were judged according to their works by what was written in the books.
God records the name of every person who ever stepped over the line of faith into Christ.
Revelation 20:15
And anyone not found written in the book of life was thrown into the lake of fire.

An obituary is the record to be read by those who remain behind in this life, here on this earth. God’s records are for the person who has just passed. Specifically, God keeps a Book of Life where He records all those who have trusted Jesus as their savior. By definition this means there are those who haven’t, and what awaits them is not imaginable or desirable as an eternal destination. Does this give you pause? Because maybe it should. Maybe this is the moment of reflection and contemplation your whole life has been leading up to. In these ten simple statements you may recognize that all of life has meaning and purpose, but will your’s measure up to God’s standard?

What does your eternal dossier look like?

Tag: Matthew 12:36

Be Careful What You Pray For…

Eternal Dossier