No 'Boss Key' Required

Have you ever used a “boss key?”  This little invention of the human mind is yet another testament to the natural traits of the human species: while we say ‘honesty is the best policy’, we live otherwise.  Here’s the scenario.  You are sitting at your desk “working” during the nationally televised men’s national basketball championship.  From your computer you can now watch all of the basketball games, and on the first Thursday and Friday of the tournament, that is an all-day opportunity.  From 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. (CT) you can watch non-stop hoops.  The only problem, of course, is that someone is paying you money to do productive work during those same hours.  Well, problem solved!  Some genius somewhere invented the “boss key”, which is a box on your computer screen which you can click on when “the boss” is approaching. Clicking on the boss key instantly changes the video on your computer screen to a new page which makes it look like you are working. Brilliant! Dishonest, but brilliant.

Do you go through life wishing that life came with a boss key? I mean, what if you could hide from your spouse or children all of the behavior you were too ashamed to let them know you were engaged in?  Do you think your life would be happier? Or would it be better to make a decision: “if I am going to engage in this particular behavior, then I am going to do so openly. And if I am too ashamed of the behavior to do so without my spouse or kids knowing it, then I won’t do it.”  Whether it’s binge shopping or eating; or computer usage or television viewing, wouldn’t you feel better about yourself if you didn’t feel the need to “click the boss key” if someone saw you doing it?

I wonder if we think about God like a boss we need to hide from.  Do we try to hide our true feelings and actions from God, thinking we can click on some spiritual boss key whenever we don’t want God to know what we are all about?  Friends, it doesn’t work. God knows. “ I look behind me and you’re there, then up ahead and you’re there, too—your reassuring presence, coming and going. This is too much, too wonderful I can’t take it all in!” (Psalm 139, The Message)  God is not some big “boss” walking behind you waiting to catch you at something.  But neither is God blind to how we live.

Yet, fully knowing who you really are, God still loves you with an overwhelming love.  With God, no boss key is required.  Now, don’t live like you need one.