An adventurer parachutes out of an aircraft, or leaps over a gap, or jumps into a raging river … and we see it from below, or from the far side, or from alongside him in the raging river. Wherever he goes the cameraman is there already. Yes, the adventurer is a hero, but is not the cameraman as well?
We’ve come to accept the presence of the Invisible Cameraman (or these days a drone) and his camera lens has become our vision of what’s happening. He is as ubiquitous as McDonalds and other big brand outlets. Through his camera lens we face roaring lions, spitting cobras, charging elephants, snapping crocs and angry grizzlies — all from our safe and comfortable armchairs.
Down through church history great theological battles raged over the question of Foreknowledge and Predestination. How is it possible to know who will be saved and who will not? There’s also the matter of God’s Sovereignty and Our Responsibility (not to mention the polar opposite views of Hyper Calvinism and Arminian).
But think of God as being the Invisible Cameraman, so to speak, who is with us wherever we go and whatever we do. God is, you know, by His Spirit. And not only there but has foreseen it all from the dawn of time. “Known unto God are all His works, from the beginning of the world.” (Acts 15:18)
When we view things with God’s foreknowledge, we know that He is already present invisibly. True, our choices determine our destination, but God foreknew our choices. He knew where we would go and when we would go there; and he knew what we would do when we got there. He foreknew the outcome of everything. Whatever we do, God knew.
It may be that some people are kept alive through terrible tragedies because God knew that they would one day yield to His will by submitting to Jesus. We should not think of these fatalistically — as though we are borne along on the current of the Divine Will regardless of what we say or do. His Spirit might say within us, “Don’t parachute today” or “Don’t leap across that gap”, or “Don’t jump into that river”. Although God is invisible, He is not impartial in regard to the consequences of the choices we make; nor is He uncaring of our personal security.
So, next time you see an exciting video clip, think of the Divine, Invisible Cameraman — the ever-present but unrecognised Recorder of Everything. Whatever we do, wherever we go, He’s there, waiting. Nothing surprises Him because everything was known to Him from the beginning; and past things recorded, things you wish you had not done, will be deleted by Jesus if you ask Him.
Better to voice your heartfelt repentance for past sins now than to have the full, unedited, shameful details released and screened before an audience at a date yet to be disclosed — with the whole world watching. A thought that is enough to make you choke on your popcorn.