Genesis 2:15-17, 3:1-14 “Where Are You?”
INTRODUCTION
Shopping malls across the country have been using a fantastic shopping aid for several years. Of course, I speak of the mall map that shows all of the store locations, and with a big red arrow exclaims, “You are here!” It is very helpful for us to know where we are so that we can figure out how we get to where we want to go.
I think this question that God first posed to Adam and Eve after their fall, “Where are you?” is very poignant as we enter into our Stewardship Emphasis Program for 2009. We need to know where we are as individuals and as a congregation in order to know what we must do so that we end up where we want to end up—being a self-sustaining congregation, constructing our first worship/mission center, and expanding our impact on the community of Surprise.
As we see how God asked this question to Adam and Eve and how it affected their relationship with God, we can understand how important it is for us to ask this same question.
THE GIFT
God poured out his grace upon Adam and Eve and placed them in the Garden of Eden. The garden had everything they needed—plenty of food and water. What it didn’t have was weeds! The weeds came after their fall. The garden was paradise on earth. The one charge that Adam and Eve had from God was to take good care of the garden.
In reality, we have been abundantly blessed, too. I’m not quite saying the Surprise is the Garden of Eden, but it’s close. God’s grace has been poured out upon us, and we have everything we need for an abundant and satisfying life.
Adam and Eve looked around the garden and saw that it was truly a gift. They had done nothing to create the garden. What do you see when you look around? Do you see the results from the sweat of your labor? Do you see possessions—things you can say are “mine”? Or, are you like Adam and Eve and see everything as God’s gift to you?
Where are you in relation to God’s gracious gifts in your life?
THE RESPONSE
Adam and Eve could eat everything in the garden except the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. They didn’t need to eat from that tree, because they had plenty of other trees and good fruit to choose from.
Adam and Eve listened to the serpent and ate the fruit. They did so because:
• They were discontent and not satisfied with what God had given them
• They wanted to be god in their lives. They wanted to call the shots and have people serve them, no visa versa.
What is your response to God’s grace that has been poured out to you? Are you thankful for what you have received? Are you content, or do you want more?
Where are you as you respond to God’s love and grace?
THE QUESTION
After Adam and Eve eat of the fruit of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, they realize that they are naked. They experience shame for the first time in creation. They make clothes for themselves out of fig trees and hide from God. God comes looking for them and calls out to them, “Where are you?”
God’s question to them was an invitation to confess and repent. Adam chose to blame his wife and Eve turned around and blamed the serpent (the old devil made me do it excuse).
God’s question was also an invitation to come out of hiding and to live again in a personal relationship with God.
God asks us the same question. We have all sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. Where are we in our willingness to confess, repent and be forgiven? Are we still trying to hide parts of our lives from God in the vain hope that he won’t discover them?
Where are we with God’s invitation to begin again in a relationship with him? Do we still want to go our own way? Do we want to be the master of our ships and the captains of our fate? Or, do we want to live as God’s people, disciples of Jesus Christ, and servants of God?
CONCLUSION
Our answer to this question, “Where are you?” will greatly influence how we respond to the opportunity to support the work of the Lord in and through Desert Streams.
In these coming weeks I invite you to reflect on God’s abundant grace in your life and ponder the question, “Where are you?” Are you where you want to be? Are you headed in the direction that you want to go?
Amen
