Where Are You?

Then the LORD God called to the man, “Where are you?” [Genesis 3.9]

Where are you? That's a good question.

We must understand that God had not misplaced Adam and Eve, not had they managed to go where God could not find them.

God's question to Adam and Eve was one of revelation. It revealed to Adam and Eve that they had removed themselves from their previous position with God into a degraded and fallen position. Their relationship with God would never be the same. Never.

It is also worth discussing here that God was not taken by surprise by the First Couple's sin. The only thing God did not create in man was the will to love and serve Him. Instead, that will had to come from the heart of the man in order for his relationship with God to be genuine (and what else would God desire from the beginning but a genuine relationship?). For this reason, God had already planned for Jesus' mission to earth so that man could decide by faith to be in relationship with God...

The Promise of Messiah, brought forgiveness of sins in return for repentance from man. It was God's plan before He even created man!

But first... "Where are you?" Man must understand that he is fallen and degraded and in need of God. It is in this arena of need that God's Provision and man's matching "void" could fit perfectly together in a relationship similar to a glove fitting a hand. But again, it starts with understanding that things are not right (as with Adam and Eve) and this understanding comes when we face the question, "Where are you?"

So, I ask myself, "Greg, where are you?"

And so, I ask anyone who is reading this, where are you?

Our first response to this question, when understanding that it is God asking it, should be one of repentance (as it should have been with Adam and Eve, but was instead a game of blame).

God will never ask the question "Where are you?" unless He knows we need to consider that He asked it because He already knows we are in sin and need to repent.

What a good way to start a New Year!

Father, as I begin this New Year (2023), I do so acknowledging my need for You because of my fallen heritage from Adam and Eve. I am nothing apart from You, so I wish not to hide from You in sin, but instead run to you in repentance that I might live in the abundance of Your forgiveness and love in Christ Jesus.