How often do we do things in secret? Behind closed doors, behind people’s backs? We whisper our juicy bits of other people’s doings; we go on-line to check out questionable sites and read unsavoury posts; we do things in the privacy of our homes that will not bother anyone else. After all, what has it got to do with anyone else?

We enjoy the spurt of adrenaline they give, even if we do not realise that is what is happening. It’s a good feeling. A satisfactory feeling. And so, in spite of any good intentions we may have, we find ourselves doing it again.

After all, what has it got to do with anyone else?

But there is One who sees. God sees. One of His names is El roi, the God who sees. What does the seeing do to Him? How does He feel when He watches us do these things we feel do not concern anyone else? Does His heart break?

These secrets are dangerous. They do affect us. They can affect who we are, who we become. They can change our personality and shape our character. And the more we do them, whatever they are, the more irresistible they become.

God sees. No matter where we are or who we are. No matter if we act in secret in the daylight or the dark. No matter whether we share the secret with another or hug it to ourselves for all our days. God sees.

He will not like what He sees. But, here’s the kicker. What He sees does not stop Him loving us, or prevent Him from forgiving us.

Realising how we are behaving and how our behaviour affects God and ourselves, and turning back to God, asking His forgiveness, making up our minds to stop – whether we are successful or not, shows us our God with arms open wide, ready to hold us in His embrace, close to His heart.

He is always willing to forgive, to forget, to help us withstand the temptation to do it again. Willing to give us the strength to stop – to turn away – to resist.

Oh yes, God sees, and in the seeing He loves us and longs for us to turn to Him.

Will you turn back to Him today, behind your closed door, and let Him love you?

Some Scriptures to read:

Genesis 16:7-13 Hagar’s story

Psalm 10:1-18 God will never see me – yet He does

1 Samuel 16:6-7 When they arrived, Samuel saw Eliab and thought, “Surely the Lord’s anointed stands here before the Lord.” But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”

Job 34:21-22 His eyes are on the ways of mortals; He sees their every step. There is not deep shadow, no utter darkness where evildoers can hide.

Luke 16:14-15 The Pharisees, who loved money, heard all this and were sneering at Jesus. He said to them, “You are the ones who justify yourselves in the eyes of others, But God knows your hearts. What people value highly is detestable in God’s sight.