Where Are You?

“And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” (Genesis 3:8-11)

Can you imagine what life must have been like for Adam and Eve at the very beginning of creation? God created them with His hands, forming Adam from the dust of the ground and breathing life into his nostrils, and forming Eve by taking a rib from Adam’s side and creating the help meet for him. Not only did God create them, but God also spoke with them, telling them everything they needed to know in order to live free of harm in the Garden of Eden. God also provided for them a paradise where there was no pain, no sickness, no fighting, no wars, nothing of which to be afraid, but in this paradise called the “Garden of Eden” everything was given to them by God in order that they may stay in the condition they were in when God said they were “good” (Gen. 1:31). Among all of the perfection of God’s creation was one stipulation for Adam and Eve concerning the garden, and that was not to eat of ONE tree (Gen. 2:17). We know the rest of the story and how Satan was able to deceive Adam and Eve and they did eat of the forbidden fruit, but after the deed was done and when God called for Adam and Eve, He asks “Where art thou?” (Gen. 3:9). God did not ask this question because He could not find them but He asks this question to cause Adam and Eve to reflect upon where they were spiritually, knowing they had disobeyed the command given to them.

When we read of Adam and Eve we cannot believe the words we read and the commentary of their disobedience that is forever etched into the pages of history in the inspired Word of God. We cannot believe that they could not keep themselves from doing the one thing they were told not to do. Before we rebuke Adam and Eve too much for their disobedience, may I ask where are you? No, not where are you physically, but where are you spiritually? Are you keeping yourself from doing the one thing you are told not to do (sin)? Have you been able to “mortify your members which are upon the earth” (Col. 3:5), burying your sins in baptism, walking in the newness of life (Rom.6:3-4), and not transgress God’s Law (1 John 3:4)? It is easy to point out the sins of others but are we able to point out the sins in our lives? Adam and Eve had one command (do not sin), and, likewise, Christians have one command (do not sin). Are you able to keep that command? Where are you? In sin or in Christ?