There. Then. Now.

But you just cover the hurts of your past.  It’s what you do when your eyes are not opened, and you cannot see the LORD.  And you remain in the darkness.  There.  Though you feel you are doing it right, doing the good thing.  Though you feel you are growing and you've got this life figured out.  Though you feel like it’s okay, and it’s all you can do, just to cover the hurts and push forward, move on and just forget, just pretend all is well.  

But, you do not see the Lord.  No, you cannot.

Because you just don't want to.  To see or to hear.  For you just don't want to deal with the hurts.  You just don't want to go back.  There.  Because you are over the difficulty now, and it never really brought you to your knees then.  It never really showed you your need.  Then.  For your eyes were never really opened, and you never saw the LORD, no, you never really saw Christ.  Then.

So you deny Christ at that moment in your life.  Yes, you denied seeing Him.  Then.

But now.  It is a new moment.  Right now.  Is new.  And when the hurts come up again, when the difficulty raises its head, again.  When the trials come, it’s true, you still have a choice.  Now.

So, what will you do?  

Push forward, or fall to your knees?  Move on, or stop to look up?  Pretend, or actually acknowledge God's authority over your life?  

What will you do?

Because God's cry is for you to follow.  Him.  God's cry is for you to come.  To Him, to know Him, to love Him.  Though you denied Him in your life, though you never acknowledged His Lordship.  Then.  Though you spit in His face at what He was doing.  God's cry is still "do you love me?" ... "then follow me."  

Because today is a new moment.  Now is a new moment of grace.  A day when you can reply, "Yes, Lord, you know I love you."

****

"...they spit in Jesus' face and hit him with their fists.  And some slapped him," - Matthew 26:67

"When the centurion and those who were with him, keeping watch over Jesus, saw the earthquake and what took place, they were filled with awe and said, "Truly this was the Son of God!" - Matthew 27:54

"Suddenly, Jesus' words flashed through Peter's mind: "Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times."  And he went away, crying bitterly." - Matthew 26:75

"Lord, you know everything.  You know I love you." ...  Then Jesus told him, "Follow me." - John 21: 17, 19