I was reading a book with information about background checks the FBI makes
on prospective government employees and specially those who will be working in
the White House in Washington, and was struck by the rigor with which these
investigations are made. Four of the key elements in the checks involve a
person’s character, associates, reputation and loyalty.
Good character traits which an FBI investigation will look for are honesty,
integrity, work ethic, attitude, demeanor, and bearing. They will also look at a
person’s associates because if a doctor associates in his off hours with drug
traffickers, an FBI agent socializes with criminals or a married man socializes
with young single women then they are suspect. A good reputation is hard won and
when most of those who know the person have a negative impression of him then
the FBI will need to make further investigations to see why.
What came to mind in thinking about background checks was that on that day
when we face the Lord in the final judgment, it will be too late to worry about
what might turn up in our background check for everything will already have been
recorded in “the books” which will then be opened (Revelation 20:12).
If you think it would be difficult to pass an FBI background check on your life,
then think how much more difficult it will be to answer for every bad thing that
will appear in the complete record of everything you ever did.
Since we know that such a record is being made, even as we read these words,
we need to do what we can to make sure no evil things find their way into that
record, and to ensure that good deeds predominate. What we do from this moment
on will have a profound effect on how we are able to cope with the final
judgment.
We need to make sure, firstly, that we have made our “appeal to Christ for
a good conscience” by obeying the command to be baptized (I Peter 3:21). Since
the blood of Christ covers our sins, this alone can make a tremendous difference
when the books are opened (Hebrews 9:14).
Then we need to make continual progress in Christ toward an ever holier life.
Peter outlines one such course we can take in that direction when he says, “Applying
all diligence, in your faith supply moral excellence, and in your moral
excellence, knowledge, and in your knowledge, self-control, and in your
self-control, perseverance, and in your perseverance, godliness, and in your
godliness, brotherly kindness, and in your brotherly kindness, love. For if
these qualities are yours and are increasing, they render you neither useless
nor unfruitful in the true knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For he who lacks
these qualities is blind or short-sighted, having forgotten his purification
from his former sins. Therefore, brethren, be all the more diligent to make
certain about His calling and choosing you; for as long as you practice these
things, you will never stumble; for in this way the entrance into the eternal
kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ will be abundantly supplied to
you” (2 Peter 1:5-11).
Now is the time to look over what might
be in your background check on the day of judgment and to decide to make any and
all changes that might be necessary to ensure that you will have a place in the
eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.