The
questions asked in the Bible are often very penetrating!
Examples can be found throughout the pages
of Holy Scripture: --
Jesus asked: -- "What shall it
profit a man -- if he shall gain the whole world -- & lose his own
soul?" (Mark 8:36)
All the oil in the Middle East -- &
all the gold in
The Hebrew writer asks the question: --
"How shall we escape if we neglect so great salvation?" (Hebrews 2:3)
If we ignore God's provision for our
forgiveness -- how shall we escape the judgment that is sure to come? -- There
is no escape!
The very first question God ever put to man
is brief & probing.
It is found in
It has been suggested that it was not the
apple in the tree that caused the problem of sin -- but rather it was the
"pear" (pair) on the ground.
That pair was Adam & Eve themselves --
who acted in disobedience!
In
In this chapter we find the story of man
& woman's rebellion against God. -- Let’s read the story beginning with
"Where are you?" -- It is a
question that rolls like thunder through the pages of human history.
"Where are you?" -- It is a
question that is blaring from every mountain peak & starry sky.
It rings every time a church bell rings --
whither in lofty city church steeple -- or in a humble rural county
chapel. -- “Where are you?"
The question was not asked because God was
ignorant!
God knew where Adam was -- & Adam knew
where he was.
Until Adam sinned -- the question would have
been pointless -- for God & Adam had always joyfully fellowshipped
together.
But
now Adam & Eve had disobeyed -- & there were immediate consequences! --
They felt naked & ashamed -- so they hid themselves.
By asking the question -- "Where are
you?" -- God was compelling Adam to face up to his own lost condition.
God called out to Adam in order to arouse
& convict him.
This is not only God's first question to
Adam -- but it is God's question to every one of us here today! -- “Where are
you?"
It is a question I would like to put to each
one of you today: --
Where are you in your relationship to God?
-- Where are you spiritually? -- Where are you morally? -- Where are you
ethically?
Some people get under the tree of
discouragement;
Others get on the slippery path of
worldliness.
Some get on the house top of self-ease;
Others get into the castles of doubting.
Some get on the side track of disobedience;
Others get into the grove of
self-confidence.
Some get into the ship of desertion;
Others get into the cloak of deception.
Some get into the tents of gossipers;
Others get into the valley of despair.
"Where are you?" -- The name "Adam" in the Hebrew
means "man-kind" -- so this is the question that God puts to each one
of us today!
God's Holy Word very beautifully portrays
three excellent examples of our standing -- our status -- before God.
Let's look at some examples found in the
pages of Scripture: --
1. Adam -- who was Attempting to Hide from God!
Previous to this time -- Adam & Eve had
enjoyed glad fellowship & communion with God.
But sin & disobedience alienates! -- Sin
destroys relationships. -- Sin brings estrangement -- distrust -- & fear to
the sinner's heart.
So Adam was attempting to flee from God; --
he was hiding because of his guilt & shame.
Sin makes people flee from God.
Sin introduces the element of fear into our
lives.
Sin makes us foolish in our attempt to hide
from God.
A whole forest of trees cannot conceal the
guilty from the eye of heaven.
Fig leaves cannot cover the nakedness of our
shame.
There's an old Southern Spiritual that says:
-- "There's no hiding place down here."
When God called out & asked -- "Adam,
where are you?" -- Adam dreaded to answer -- for he was trying to
hide.
From Adam's day until now -- there have been
people who have tried to hide from God!
That is why some people refuse to attend
church.
That is why the Bible comes under attack --
for the Bible exposes sin & points us to God.
When
we see ourselves as sinners -- we become uneasy in the presence of a holy God.
Some years ago I was conducting a service at
a retirement home.
I preached on this verse -- "Where are
you?" -- & I said there is no way to hide from God.
Afterward one of the ladies came to me &
told about her little nephew -- who was told that God always sees us.
He asked his mother: -- "If I hide
under my bed, will God still see me?"
His mother replied -- "Yes."
Again he asked: -- "If I shut myself in
the closet, will God still see me?"
And again the answer was -- "Yes."
Still not satisfied the lad tried again by
asking: -- "If I hide in the basement, do you mean God will still see
me?" -- "Yes" the mother said.
Then the little boy spoke for a whole lot of
people when he replied: -- "I don't know if I like that."
The big word today is "escapism"
-- we try to escape.
Some people try to escape by constantly
watching television.
Some run away by taking drugs -- or drinking
alcohol.
Others become endlessly preoccupied with
sexuality.
Some seek to escape trough the New Age
movement -- or Eastern religions.
We want to dull the pain of living -- but it
is hard to escape.
We try to find adventure; -- we try to run
from a business problem; -- from a marriage gone stale; -- we want to get away
-- somehow move out -- but there is no place to hide -- & all the time God
is calling to us -- "where are you? -- where are you? -- where are
you?"
My dear friend -- are you walking with the
Lord -- or running from Him?
God is always calling -- "where are
you?"
God refused the alibis & the excuses of
Adam & Eve -- & He will not accept your alibis nor excuses either!
Like Adam -- are you trying to hide from God
today?
2. But let's look at another example found in
the Bible. -- There is Peter -- who Followed God "Afar Off"!
The Gospel writer,
Much has been made of that comment in the
Gospel -- "And Peter followed afar off." (Luke 22:54).
Some
call it distant discipleship; -- others call it nominal Christianity.
Peter made a fatal mistake when he allowed
too much distance to come between the Master & himself.
It was true that he remained a follower --
but he was no longer close to the Lord; -- he began to drift away from Christ!
And the Big Fisherman -- as he has been
called -- became the photo-type of all backsliders!
"Following afar off" can happen in
two ways: --
It may come as the result of never getting
close.
We like the church; -- we enjoy the
fellowship of God's people; -- the idea of a good life appeals to us; -- but we
don't want to get too close.
Baptism -- or the Lord's Supper -- or even
church attendance -- are often substituted for genuine spiritual renewal -- or
for a real vital faith!
A form of religion -- that is just going
through the motions -- can take the place of real substance; -- the shadow
replaces the reality.
Or -- "following afar off" -- may
come -- as it did with Peter -- to one who has been in close company with the
Lord -- but has fallen back.
We often wander away from God by neglecting
prayer; -- neglecting His Holy Word; -- neglecting church attendance; --&
failing to pay our tithe.
The one who stays close to Christ cannot
stand still!
The Christian is always moving forward --
upward -- growing spiritually.
Many are afar off today -- simply because
they stopped growing; -- they tried to stand still!
Some Christians could testify that they are
"saved, sanctified, & petrified." -- This would be amusing if it
were not so true!
Maybe you have allowed some hurts to take
root in your heart -- & they have become a wedge that has pulled your heart
away from God.
When people drift -- or fall away -- from
the Lord Jesus -- or even from the church -- spiritual fervor disappears --
& danger threatens.
When Christians become too involved in other
activities -- & cease attending the house of God; -- when their Bible is
seldom read -- & fellow-ship with other believers is rejected -- spiritual
temperature falls.
My friend -- no one can afford to become
lukewarm spiritually!
For Jesus said He will spew the lukewarm out
of His mouth (Rev. 3:16).
There is a real danger in "following
afar off."
It was while following afar off that Peter
denied the Lord.
Peter did not maintain even the same
distance.
Peter fell back even farther.
Distance discipleship increases the
opportunities for the enemy -- the devil -- to come between us & God.
The more space there is between you &
your Lord -- the more room there is for other things to crowd in.
Since Christ is our Strength & our Life
-- distance from Him weakens us -- & leaves us open & vulnerable to the
enemy of our soul.
The sheep that is picked off by the wolves
is the one that has lagged behind the shepherd & the flock!
Luke adds a very moving touch -- not found
in the other Gospels -- when he records: -- "And the Lord turned &
looked upon Peter" (22:61).
You may be sure that there was in that gaze
a mixture of sorrow, disappointment -- & tender love!
It was Jesus way of saying: -- "Peter,
where are you?"
It broke Peter's heart -- & it provided
the turning point in the drift of his soul -- & we read that "Peter
went out & wept bitterly" (22:63) -- with tears of sincere repentance.
So there is hope -- as well as danger -- in
distant discipleship!
Peter failed Jesus while following afar off
-- but Jesus did not forget Peter!
Thank God -- Peter had enough sense to
rejoin the company of the disciples -- & Peter was there when the
electrifying news was given on Resurrection Day: -- "He is not here; for
He is risen!"
My friends -- there is peril in remaining
afar off -- but there is also the privilege of rejoining Christ -- &
walking in close fellowship with Him.
Let no one here be satisfied with being a
distant disciple -- or a nominal Christian! --
Like Peter -- are you trying to follow the Lord afar off today?
3. There is still another example from the Bible
that I'd like us to look at together. --
Paul, who was able to say -- "I have not been Disobedient unto the
Heavenly Vision."
Shortly after Paul was converted & saved
on the road to
Years later -- Paul was pleading his cause
before King Agrippa.
The Apostle outlined the events that
followed his conversion -- & stated to the best of his ability -- that in
fact he had obeyed God.
Paul was able to testify: -- "O King
Agrippa -- I have not been disobedient unto the heavenly vision” (Acts 26:19).
I -- for one -- am so grateful that Paul
remained faithful & obedient -- & you should be most glad also!
Paul suffered many things for his faith! -- Many
hardships; -- but he kept the faith to the very end.
In his final words written to young Timothy
-- Paul was able to say: -- "I have fought a good fight; -- I have
finished my course; -- I have kept the faith" (2 Tim. 4:7).
Paul was faithful regardless of the
circumstances or hardship he suffered.
Paul's obedience was not -- "cold
obedience"; -- nor "half-hearted" obedience -- it was total
obedience!
Paul was obedient in sharing his faith; --
obedient in doing the full will of God. -- Paul kept his eyes steadfast on his
eternal goal!
He said with determination -- "This one
thing I do ... I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God
in Christ Jesus" (Phil. 3: 13-14).
Paul never looked back! -- He always looked
forward to his eternal home in heaven! -- He was not disobedient to his
heavenly vision!
What an example for all of us! -- An example
of total & complete obedience to the full will of God for our lives!
Conclusion:
-- I ask you again today -- "Where are you?"
Are you like Adam -- attempting to hide from
guilt?
Are you like Peter -- following the Lord
afar off?
Are you like Paul -- faithful & obedient
to God's will in your life?
Those three words -- "Where are
you?" -- Brought Adam & Eve to admit to themselves -- & to God --
what had happened -- & where they were!
God is calling you today: -- "Adam,
where are you?"
Can you hear Him calling your name --
personally?
You have an eternal Soul -- & you are
responsible for it!
It is a question that must be faced
seriously & honestly!
It is a question that must be faced
completely!
Don't trifle with it! -- God is not mocked!
Don't try to gamble with God!
Don't say -- "I'll take my
chances!"
It was not in anger -- but in love &
compassion -- that God the Father called out to His erring children --
"Where are you?"
God's question to you is the voice of grace,
mercy, & love.
The president of a theological seminary --
used to invite to his office some of the new students -- who did not sense the
urgency of the ministry they were entering.
He would ask them to read that portion of
Genesis where man first sinned -- & how God sought Adam in the garden in
the cool of the day -- calling out: -- "Where are you?"
Listening carefully -- the president would
say to those young preacher boys -- "You can never be a preacher! -- You
read it as though God were a policeman. -- Unless you can read it as though God
were a heart broken father looking for a lost child -- you can never make
it."
"Where are you?" -- is a question
of lamenting & aching!
This question of God brought Adam into the
light; -- out of his hiding; -- out of his fear; -- into God's wonderful grace!
My friend -- God loves you! -- God is
searching for you!
God is asking you today: -- "Where are
you?"
Pastor
Wynne
Chapel --