Your life is going on record
More than thirty years ago, there was a gospel tract circulating within the churches and communities and had the title “Your Life is going on record”.
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It pictured a trial scene at the end of one’s life, where everything one had done in life was replayed before him because all of it had been captured on record.
We were not in the digital age then and could not readily visualise how all of our lives could be videotaped. We believed the message of that tract because it reflected two key Bible teachings.
First, that there is a day of review and rewards; a day of judgement. The Bible says, “Each person is destined to die once, and after that comes judgement”, “… when God through Jesus Christ will judge the secret thoughts of all”, “You can be sure that on Judgement Day everyone will have to give account of every useless word he has ever spoken. Your words will be used to judge you — to declare you either innocent or guilty” (Hebrews 9:27; NLT; Romans 2:16; GNB; Matthew 12:36&37; GNB).
There is judgement unto good rewards for godly living and fruitful service that fulfils God’s purposes.
The Apostle Paul says, “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of His return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to His appearing” (2 Timothy 4:7&8; NLT).
Then there is judgement unto punishment for evil done. “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons. “… I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me. And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go into eternal life.”(Matthew 25:41-46; NLT)
The Bible is clear on the teachings on judgement that awaits every one of us. “For we must all stand before Christ to be judged. We will each receive whatever we deserve for the good or evil we have done in this earthly body” (2 Cor 5:10; NLT).
Secondly, our lives are being recorded and on judgement day there will be adequate evidence for God the Righteous judge to prosecute us. Our secrets and day-to-day ungodly irrelevant speeches will be played back at judgement.
“… The day is coming when God, through Christ Jesus, will judge everyone’s secret life” (Romans 2:16; NLT)
Today, it is not difficult to embrace the thought that our life’s activities can easily be recorded with all kinds of IT gadgets. And when you have Anas around your house and offices, your bad deeds or good professional practices will go on record as hard evidence.
Currently, it is Anas recordings of some Judicial Service officials which is on show: “Ghana in the eyes of God-Epic of injustice”. Will hard evidences come up?
Will the Judicial Council have the moral courage to deal with officials that must face trials and sanctions? Or will we hope we had “Community Tribunals” to deal with the hard evidences?
Worse still we shouldn’t wish the Constitution will be suspended a few years ahead because of gross loss of confidence in our state systems and institutions; and then we can redress issues like the Anas Judicial system matters.
But when some judicial officials face sanctions will others be commended for good professional behaviour as captured in the recording?
When we think of Anas, we feel there is no place to hide. Where will Anas next be doing the recordings of good professional conduct and evil practices – Ghana Medical Association and the hospitals and clinics?
Revisit Tema Harbour? Water and Electric Power production and distribution institutions? What should we expect to see and hear of Anas in Parliament? Or Media Houses? Can we all pass the integrity test?
We wonder if there are many institutions around which will find the presence of Anas comfortable. If the human records have faults in them, God’s record of us remain completely correct.
Can we find uncommon grace of accepting wrong and resolving to live a better life of integrity? God be our helper! Remember, your life and my life is going on record.
(The author is a Leadership Development and Cross-cultural Ministries consultant, an international conference speaker and formerly General Director/CEO of Scripture Union Ghana. Email: ghanajesuscrusade@gmail.com / sughanaho@gmail.com)
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