What Does God See in the Dark Corners of Your Life?

Someone has written a humorous piece about what some mothers of famous people could have said:

MONA LISA’S MOTHER: “After all that money your father and I spent on braces, Mona, that’s the biggest smile you can give us?”

JONAH’S MOTHER: “That’s a nice story, but now tell me where you’ve really been for the last three days.”

HUMPTY DUMPTY’S MOTHER: “Humpty, if I’ve told you once, I’ve told you a hundred times not to sit on that wall. But would you listen to me? Noooo!”

COLUMBUS’ MOTHER: “I don’t care what you’ve discovered, Christopher. You still could have written!”

NAPOLEON’S MOTHER: “All right, Napoleon. If you aren’t hiding your report card inside your jacket, then take your hand out of there and prove it!”

MICHELANGELO’S MOTHER: “Mike, can’t you paint on walls like other children? Do you have any idea how hard it is to get that stuff off the ceiling?”

It was on this day, November 1, 1512,  500 years ago, that the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel in Rome was exhibited to the public for the first time.  It is one of Michelangelo’s finest works.  For four back-breaking years, the Italian artist worked on a hanging scaffold. By all historical accounts, the labor was demanding. The project was gigantic, as he expanded it from a simple depiction of the 12 apostles to more than 400 figures and 9 scenes from the Bible book of Genesis. And his standard of excellence was maintained throughout the project.

Legend has it that a friend once came to visit the artist while he was working in a dark corner of the chapel. Observing that no one would ever see that dark corner, he asked “why” he was giving it such painstaking effort. Michelangelo replied, “God will see.”

Five hundred years later, this response is appropriate for our self-examination: “God will see.” The Bible reminds us, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good” (Prov 15:3, ESV).  The Psalmist raised the question, “Where can I flee from your presence?” His answer: “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall fall on me,’ Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, but the night shines as the day; The darkness and the light are both alike to You.”  His conclusion:  God is omnipresent.  All-seeing.  Ever alert and aware of our actions. He even sees in the dark corners. Whether the Sistine Chapel or our hearts. Minds.  And lives.

It is said that Michelangelo would pray, “Lord, make me see your glory in every place.” God wants us to be people of excellence. To see his glory.  And to reflect his glory. Peter proclaimed: “But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light” (1 Pet 2:9, ESV). In our lives and our labor for the Lord, we are called to excellence.  To do our very best. To do top-notch work.  To live with virtue.

Remember, if you “cut corners”, God will see it.  So ask…

1. Does my self-interest cause me to give God the leftovers?

2. Am I honest in my business dealings?

3. Do I report all my income on my taxes?

4. When I make a promise, do I keep it?