THE FINDING
Then the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9)
There is joy in finding something that we are looking for. There are also times of pain in finding out things that we did not want to know or hear. Sometimes we find what we are looking for and sometimes we do not.
God knew exactly where Adam was when He called for him. Adam had no idea. He and Eve had just discovered that they were naked! What is naked? Why are we hiding from God? Something has changed and life is not what it was before.
We all like good findings! As I start this, I am reminded of the time when Michael disappeared. It happened now and then, but this was different. We were at a truck stop and we looked everywhere. When we found him, he was where he could not get on his own. He was by a stream in a deep ravine. We could only praise God and assume that he was placed there for protection. Thank you, Lord. We rejoiced and traveled on. I sense the Lord’s presence just sharing that.
God’s call of, “Where are you,” is on a continual loop all over the world. He calls for the lost and calls for us, His children, to be aware of where we are. The finding out is an amazing start for those who are lost, as well as those who are hiding because they are naked and afraid. God calls because He cares.
The delivering response is, “Here I am Lord.” Simply, call out to the Lord. Wherever we are, whatever we are doing, we need only to respond to His call.
Change the channel. Delete the distraction. Don’t let it become an attraction. Don’t keep circling near the trouble. Trouble comes in a lot of forms. You can keep going over what someone did to you or said to you. You follow a pop up on your phone or a channel on the television that you know better than to follow. We can be tempted to speak words that we should not speak. God will help us if we only call out to Him.
Lately, I have thought about my past. I have looked at my childhood. I have wondered how I got where I did. In it all, I have realized how badly it could have ended, but thanks to Gods’ continual call of where are you everything changed when I came out of hiding.
Did I find God or did God find me? He was not looking because He knew where I was. I was not looking, but like all people, I was probably searching for something more in life. I really do not spend much time trying to figure it out. Truly it is above and beyond my ability to imagine. I always come to the same place when I consider it; I just praise God and give Him thanks. It only makes sense for someone who worked so hard and so diligently to wreck their life, to rejoice when God rescues, transforms, and saves them from total destruction. Thank you, Lord!