From where, then, does wisdom come? And where is the place of understanding? It is hidden from the eyes of all living and concealed from the birds of the air. Abaddon and Death say, ‘We have heard a rumor of it with our ears.’ God understands the way to it, and He knows its place. For He looks to the ends of the earth and sees everything under the heavens. Job 28:20-24

The point of our realizing that God sees all isn't to make us paranoid and give up trying just because we know we can never be perfect of our own power. And it's not about God waiting for us to mess up so that He can smite us down. The point is that we shouldn't fool ourselves into thinking that He doesn't see, such that we feel "free" to do whatever we want and He won't know. (See related Scriptures at the end of this article.)

What's important is in our hearts, but that doesn't mean that good intentions are enough. (Matt. 15:19, Mark 7:21-23) If we continually claim that "our heart is good inside," but our outward actions are evil (according to God's word), then we're lying to ourselves, others and God. (1John 1:5-10, 2:3-6, 3:4-10, Rom. 2:6-11, Matt. 7:15-29, 12:33, Luke 6:43-49, Rom. 16:19, 1Cor. 14:20, Isa. 5:20-21) But of those three, God cannot be fooled. IF we love Him as we claim to (and should), then we will seek to please Him. If we love Him, He makes His home in us and helps us to desire to know and do His will. We are not left on our own. (John 14:15-26, Phil. 2:12-16) What comes out of our heart when we're born again is GOOD, because He dwells IN us. We are led by Him (rather than rebelling against Him as we did before, when we behaved as our own "gods" instead of humbling ourselves before our Creator and ONLY Savior - Isa. 43:11, 45:21-25, Jam. 4:7-10, 1Pet. 5:6-11), and HE bears good fruit. (Titus 3:3-8, Rom. 8:13-19, Gal. 5:16-25)

So if it freaks anyone out to think of God knowing about all they think, say and do, and they feel intense pressure to "be good" and are stressed out over being unable to attain perfection - they're DOING IT WRONG. It's impossible. The ONLY way to overcome the world, including the sinful desires of our OLD self, is to become a NEW creation in Christ. (Rom. 8:1, 2Cor. 5:17, Gal. 6:15, 1John 5:5) BUT, this is NOT an imaginary thing where we CLAIM to be "new" but still appear by our outward actions to be the same as before. (Eph. 4:17-24, Eph. 2:1-3, Col. 3:7-10, 1Pet. 4:1-5, 2Pet. 1:9, 1Cor. 6:9-20, 1Thess. 4:1-8) When there is truly such a drastic inward change as the new birth, it will work its way OUT. (John 3:3-8 - we can't see the wind, but we can see the effects of it...)

Here's something to think about. We know that Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead (John 11, among others, such as the 12-year old girl and the young man who was the only son of his mother - Mark 5:35-43, Luke 7:11-19). If Jesus had said that He raised Lazarus from the dead, but he still APPEARED to be dead in the tomb, would anyone have believed Him? No, that's ridiculous, right? Well so it is with US. He has given us NEW LIFE, and if we still behave the same as we did when we were DEAD in our sins, then we are either lying that we truly believe in our hearts, or we are blaming GOD for our behavior--claiming that He didn't do what He said He would do, which is to regenerate our Spirit when we came to the knowledge of the truth, when we were BORN AGAIN. (Eph. 1:13-14, Jam. 1:18, Titus 2:11-15) We are not instantly perfected outwardly the moment we believe, but there will be genuine, continued progress toward Christ-likeness, and He is HOLY. (Col. 3:9-10, Gal. 4:19, Rom. 8:29, 12:1-2, 1Pet. 1:14-19, 2Cor. 6:14-7:1)

When we are baptized into Christ (Rom. 6), we are clothed by/with Christ with the holy, white spiritual garment of HIS righteousness, cleansed and bought with His precious blood. (Gal. 3:27, 1John 1:7, 1Pet. 1:17-21, Rev. 5:9-10, 7:13-17, 22:14-15) However, we SOIL it when we indulge the evil desires of our OLD nature instead of the pure, holy desires coming out of our washed and regenerated spirit. We spiritually DIED when we sinned (just like Adam and Eve - Gen. 3 - they didn't physically die instantly, but their intimate fellowship with God in the Garden was severed). We came ALIVE again ("born again," as innocent as we were when we were first born, having the sinful nature, but not having yet sinned) when the Holy Spirit came to dwell in us. (Rom. 13:14, Rev. 3:4-6, 2Pet. 2:17-22, Jam. 1:27)

Jesus will forgive us EVERY time we acknowledge our sin and repent, asking Him to wash us clean again (with the precious blood of His ONE perfect sacrifice of Himself.) (Eph. 5:22-33, 1John 1:5-10, Heb. 9:25-28, John 10:17-18, Rom. 8:34, Heb. 7:25). We are Jesus' brothers and sisters, and He instructed us to forgive upon repentance--so does He. (Matt. 12:46-50, 21-35, Luke 17:3-4, Mark 3:31-35, Rom. 8:29) However, He also said that if your brother will not repent, then they are to be as a "tax collector" to you. (Matt. 18:15-17 - also see 1Cor. 5:7-13 and John 15:12-17.) We don't live in fear of losing our salvation because we inadvertently slipped, but we don't trample carelessly on Jesus' precious blood, either. (1John 4:18, Heb. 10:26-39)

We don't do the WORK in order to bear good fruit, HE DOES, but we STOP striving against Him. (John 15:1-8) Another illustration to consider might be if we were to separate out a section of land we own to plant a garden devoted to God (perhaps to grow food to donate to the poor). Would we then go and plant poisonous plants there? Would we pull up the good plants when they take root? Would we fertilize the weeds and let the plants wither for lack of water? No! We would encourage the good to grow and weed out the bad. (Jesus told a parables about similar, but not quite the same, scenarios in Matt. 13:24-30, 36-43 and Mark 4:26-29.)

The fact remains that only GOD can actually make anything grow. We can't CREATE anything new or bring anything to life - we ALWAYS use what HE first gave us - dirt, water, sun, seeds/seedlings, fresh air, etc. - not to mention how He designed our physical bodies and gifted us with abilities and intellect to be able to do anything at all. The Scriptures refer to the Holy Spirit as both a seed and as water. (John 7:37-39, 1John 3:9, Luke 8:4-21) When we become a child of God (John 1:12-13), we give over ALL of ourselves to God, and He provides us with everything we need to bear good fruit. (1Cor. 12, Rom. 12:4-8, Eph. 6:10-20)

The truly born again person's heart has been cleansed. Whereas they once were hostile to God, they now LOVE Him and are thankful for what He has done for them. (Rom. 8:7-9, 1Cor. 2:14) The changed heart inside of them will work OUTWARD in their actions and words. It's a lifelong process with progress being made over time as the believer comes to KNOW God from the BIBLE. (Titus 2:11-15, 1Tim. 4:6-16, 1Pet. 4:1-5, 2Pet. 1:3-15, 3:11-18, Psalm 111:10, 119:105) The better we know God from His word, the more we will know what pleases Him. (Rom. 12:1-2, Heb. 13:15-16, 2Cor. 5:9-10, Heb. 11:6, 1John 3:21-24, Col. 1:9-10, 1Thess. 4:1, Eph. 5:10) When we know what the will of God is, then we will show respect by honoring His ways instead of the fallen, wicked ways of the world. (1John 2:15-17) None of this is a burden to us, because our motive is LOVE for and gratitude to the ONLY One worthy of ALL we can give. (1John 5:3, 2Cor. 5:14-15, John 14:15-26)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from His sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. Hebrews 4:12-13

The LORD looks down from heaven; He sees all the children of man; from where He sits enthroned He looks out on all the inhabitants of the earth, He who fashions the hearts of them all and observes all their deeds. Psalm 33:13-15

O LORD, God of vengeance, O God of vengeance, shine forth! Rise up, O judge of the earth; repay to the proud what they deserve! O LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked exult? They pour out their arrogant words; all the evildoers boast. They crush your people, O LORD, and afflict your heritage. They kill the widow and the sojourner, and murder the fatherless; and they say, “The LORD does not see; the God of Jacob does not perceive.” Understand, O dullest of the people! Fools, when will you be wise? He who planted the ear, does he not hear? He who formed the eye, does he not see? He who disciplines the nations, does he not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge— the LORD—knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath. Blessed is the man whom you discipline, O LORD, and whom you teach out of your law, to give him rest from days of trouble, until a pit is dug for the wicked. For the LORD will not forsake his people; he will not abandon his heritage; for justice will return to the righteous, and all the upright in heart will follow it. Psalm 94:1-15

The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good. Proverbs 15:3

O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O LORD, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high; I cannot attain it. Where shall I go from your Spirit? Or where shall I flee from your presence? If I ascend to heaven, you are there! If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there! If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,” even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you. For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from you, when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them. How precious to me are your thoughts, O God! How vast is the sum of them! If I would count them, they are more than the sand. I awake, and I am still with you. Oh that you would slay the wicked, O God! O men of blood, depart from me! They speak against you with malicious intent; your enemies take your name in vain. Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD? And do I not loathe those who rise up against you? I hate them with complete hatred; I count them my enemies. Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! Psalm 139:1-24

paper by Lorie Davison, elements by Mystique (retired)