No peace of mind..

Job 15:21 "A dreadful sound is in his ears: in prosperity the destroyer shall come upon him. "

There is a story that goes about the hospital about a man who committed a crime in his youth, a 'white collar' crime. He was never caught. Some twenty years later, when he was in his late 50's, he began to worry that his crime might become known, and he would be punished. By this time, his health was only fair, and he did not believe he could survive such a catastrophe. Could it be possible the police were still investigating? Would he be discovered, his reputation ruined, his savings depleted. He began to worry, day and night and could find no peace. Every siren, every police car going by would cause his heart to race, his mouth to turn dry. He would think of handcuffs and closed jail doors and begin to panic, sweat pouring down his face. The worry went on for years, and he found no peace within or without. He knew the best thing to do was to give himself up and let happen what would happen, but he could not. He was overcome with fear.

His worst fears never happened. He was not caught and did not give himself up and was not punished. Or was he?

Job 15:21 points out that an evil conscience conceives alarm at every sudden sound, though it be in a time of peace ("prosperity"), when there is no real danger. The jail and handcuffs made by his own mind were stronger than steel and bound him just as securely as the toughest chains.

Living a lie, pretending to be righteous when one is without remorse can be a terrible sentence to serve, relentless and harsh. There is nothing unknown to the almighty. It is best to come before the Lord and before eternity with a clean heart. If you say to yourself 'who's going to know?' think about it.