As the Financial Controller for a small security business in Atlanta for the past 13 years, I have endured multiple audits annually. An audit is an extensive and methodical examination of all of the books, records and accounts that support the financial statements. In most circumstances, they are costly and time consuming. Audits I’ve dealt with have been done by outside accountants with insurance companies, Department of Labor, commercial finance and our own accountant. All these audits are done in order to determine basically whether I am doing my job correctly and that there is no cooking of the books.
Two months ago, two days prior to leaving on a two week vacation, I received a call from the State of Georgia – Department of Revenue – Sales Tax Division. They would be coming August 13 for two days to two weeks to audit every aspect of our company books, to determine that as an agent for the State of Georgia that we were paying the state all that was due to them. The audit was for a three year period, May 2009 – July 2012. Let the panic set it!!
Proverbs 16:3 “Commit your works to the Lord, and your plans will be established.” This verse has played a very important part of my life for decades. I believe God Himself provided me with this wonderful opportunity of work and because He wanted me here, doing this work, I would commit the work that He gave me, to His service. All that I do, I mentally determine that it is for God. Just as pastors, elders, church leaders take the position that God gave them, knowing that the work is in His name and for His service. We should understand that the work God has given us is actually for Him!
Therefore I went into this audit for the state with prayer and I asked fellow Christians for their prayers also. Though I was told it could take anywhere from 2 days to 2 weeks, I anticipated 2 weeks and I PRAYED for 2 days. I spent the last two months preparing for this audit. It disrupted my normal routine of working remotely from Charleston, and I had to travel to Atlanta more often and stay longer. I was commuting to Atlanta on Sundays after the worship service and returning on Friday or Saturday in order to be home for next Sunday’s services. And I was still trying to minister to Earl and to God’s people as He also directed me. And through it all, God kept me safe in my additional travels.
On Monday, August 13, my auditor appeared at 9 AM, but by Wednesday, August 15, my auditor was finished with the on-site field audit! Do I hear an Amen? My prayer was definitely answered that in two days the on-site audit was completed. After all was said and done, I had done my job to the best of my abilities and with careful preparation and the help of my staff; we were able to provide all the information in an organized and detailed presentation.
After prayer and praise to God, He gave me a thought to ponder. Shouldn’t each of His children review the life they are living and after careful consideration, preparation and detailed determination be able to present themselves to God for audit? God is the only judge Who can determine whether they are doing the job He gave them to do, and whether they do their job to the best of their abilities. Aren’t we all really living a life that is to be fully audited by God? Thank the Lord, our books will be found clean through Jesus Christ our Lord!
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