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Where Are You?

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)

 

 

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