WHERE ARE YOU?
“And they heard the sound of the Lord God
walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and the man and his wife hid
themselves from the presence of the Lord God among the trees of the
garden. But the Lord God called to the
man, and said to him, “Where are you?” (Gen 3:8-9)
“Where are you?” This is the question that God asked when he
looked for Adam who had committed sin.
When Adam heard God’s voice, he immediately hid himself, not daring to
see God. It is quite possible that
before Adam and Eve committed sin, this question was an intimate and gentle
inquiry. But after they had committed
sin, such question became a frightening and a stern statement. “Where are you?” to every Christian it is a
statement worthy of reflection and examination.
Today, if God asked us, “Where are
you?” how would you feel? At this
moment, we may be in the midst of the pleasure of sin, or we may be busy in the
midst of pursuing a material life. Are we weak and helpless or lost at the
crossroad of faith? For a person who
truly belongs to God where should he be?
I.
In God’s House
In a busy life, everyone would
hope for a close family filled with joy.
Because only such a home is life a harbor to a ship in a turbulent and
violent sea. When we are on a journey of
faith, we will often be overwhelmed with the waves and the wind. At such time the harbor we can seek is at
God’s home, “which is the church of the living God” (1 Tim 3:15). At God’s
home, “which is the warm concern of brothers and sisters, the heavenly joy, and
the closeness surrounds. How wonderful
it is to stay in the Lord’s dwelling and how my soul yearns, even faints, for
the courts of the Lord” (Ps 84:1-2).
“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the hose of
my God than dwell in the tents of the wickedness.” (Ps 84:10)
II.
In the Bosom of God
The greatest expectation and hope
of a crying baby is to be held immediately in the bosom of the mother and
listen to her loving gentle voice.
Likewise we should yearn for the pure spiritual milk “like newborn
babies, carve pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your
salvation.” (1 Pet 2:2). “Hearken to me,
O House of Jacob, all the remnant of the House of Israel, who have been borne
by me from your birth, carried from the womb; even to your old age I am He, and
to gray hairs I will carry you. I have
made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save.” (Is 46:3-4). This is the given promise of God.
III.
Before God
If children would like to be loved
by their parents, they need to communicate with parents constantly and listen
and obey the parents in order to be filial.
Today, the guidance of God’s spirit proves that we are the sons of God
(Rom 8:14, 16). Since we are God’s
children, we should constantly stand before God. Through the guidance of Holy Spirit in our
prayer, each one of us will build up an intimate spiritual relationship with
God. When Moses came down from Mt.Sinai
he was not aware that his face was radiant because he spoke with the Lord (Ex
34:29-30). Daniel prayed three times per
day, communed with God, and received protection from life threatening dangers
(Dan 6:10). Therefore, “If we draw near
to God, He will draw near to us” (James 4:8).
By communicating with God
constantly, we shall surely see God and be transformed into his likeness with
ever increasing glory (2 Cor 3:18). We
must be righteous so we may see God so when we awake, we will be satisfied with
seeing your likeness (Ps 17:15).
Ask God for protection and
guidance so that when God asks “Where are you?”, everyone can see God with a
clear conscience and say to God, “Here am I.
Send me!” (Is 6:8)
