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Where Are You?
Scripture Reference: Genesis 3:6-9
Preached at Mount Zion Baptist Church on June 9, 2019
Delivered by Rev. John Daniel Johnson
Illustration
A few weeks ago, Jessica and I found some old pictures that we thought we had lost. When we moved from Georgia back to Alabama, we misplaced all of our family photos, which included our wedding pictures. For over five years, we thought that many of them were gone. However, we were cleaning out the shop and found all of these old, hidden treasures.
We took all the picture albums back to the house and were looking through them. While looking through all pictures, Tiffany and Charity continually asked questions. We showed them a picture of Jessica and I doing our wedding vows. One of them asked, “Daddy, where am I at in the picture?” Another picture was shown, and one of the kids replied, “Daddy, I don’t see me anywhere.” Picture after picture they continued to want to know where they were at. Why was there no pictures of them?
Finally, I had enough of replying the same answers. I replied a last time, you were not there, you were in heaven. Finally Charity replied, “Daddy, so me, and Tiffany and Trinity were in heaven? So why didn’t you and mama get to be in Heaven with us?” In other words, she asked me, Daddy “Where Are You?”
Even though I’ve got some good kids, I want to preach about the Greater One who asked this same question. If you’ll study the first things of the Bible you’ll discover that this is the first question that our LORD God asked mankind. I believe that this question is first asked because in it we have the beginning of the Gospel.
We know what the Gospel is. It is the Good News of Jesus. It is the Good News that even though we are sinners, Christ left the throneroom of Heaven, came to this earth, born of virgin, lived a sinless life, and died on Calvary as a substitute for us. The punishment that should have been on us because of our sin, was placed on the cross of Calvary. He took our sin and died to forgive us of our trespasses. They placed His dead body in a buried tomb, but on that third day, Jesus (the most powerful name) was resurrected back to life. Not only was sin defeated; death was defeated. Now, He seated in Heaven showing us mercy and grace. No matter how great that news is, it will have no impact on your spiritual life until you go back to the first question asked in the Bible.
Read Text
This morning I want us all to stand to our feet as the text is read. That last verse concludes with “Where Are You?” Before you’re seated turn to your neighbor and ask them “Where Are You Today?”
Illustration
A couple of month ago we were in the Smoky Mountains visiting one of the local zoos with our kids. As we entered the park, the attendant gladly welcomed us and informed us that there were billboards throughout the park with maps on them. I didn't really pay much attention to the comment, cause we had all afternoon to kill, so we would just casually walk around till we got tired. We had been walking around the park for about an hour; looking at all the animals that the LORD God had created, when all of sudden, one of girls looked up to me and said, "Daddy, I got to use the bathroom." We had been so focused on the animals, we had failed to focus on the location of a bathroom. So we began walking to try to find one. We'd walk one trail and a "dead end." Another trail, another "dead end." Finally, we saw a large sign that provided a map of the park. It also showed where every bathroom was in the park, and a big red arrow pointed to the location we were standing. The arrow read, "You Are Here!" In order to get to where we needed to go, we had to first know where we were. Once we knew our present location, then we could made it to our destination.
Notice the questions that God didn't ask.
1) He didn't ask what caused them to hide.
2) He didn't ask when did they hide.
3) He didn't ask who caused the problem.
4) He didn't ask how to fix the problem.
5) He didn't ask why they were hiding.
This morning, God asks that question, “Where are you?” It’s quite obvious that God already knows where we are! The question was not asked to find Adam, but for Adam to find himself. In fact, most of us as parent or as teachers, or even as leaders in almost any capacity, understand the power of using questions to help others learn. God here in Genesis and Jesus in the New Testament often used questions, not so that God can learn something He did not already know, but God uses questions so that man and woman can learn something that they were not willing to recognize or admit.
This past week I walked into my house and witnessed something that I had not seen. About a month ago, we added a new member to our family…a new puppy name Kira. Kira is almost potty trained. When she needs to go outside she runs to the back door and whimpers. That is our sign to let her out. Well on this afternoon, I came home and witnessed a large, ummm, number 2 on the floor of the living room. I immediately went into daddy mode. I called her name, “Kira.” She sat down in the flood and looked at me. Then I asked, “Who used the bathroom in the floor?” She turned her head and looked at my daughter. Knowing that it wasn’t my daughter who used the restroom in the middle of the floor, I asked again. Kira again turned away from me and looked at my other daughter. I knew it wasn’t my daughters that created that problem in the floor. It definitely wasn’t me. I was asking the puppy, not because I didn’t know the answer, but because I wanted to see her reaction and cause her to seek forgiveness.
The Condition of Man
Why did God ask the question if He already knew the answer? God knew the answer, but He was doing like He has done for so many of us. He’s asking the question to stir conviction in the heart of Adam. The issue is not that they are hiding. There’s no sin in hiding. Our children love that game. The problem is not that they are in hiding, but the issue is that there are in a place that they were not supposed to be. They were in the position they were not supposed to be in because they were in the condition they allowed themselves to be swept into.
The Cause of the Problem
1) They were not content on what God had given them.
2) They wanted to be in charge of their own life.
Transitional Sentence:
The challenge is for us to discover where we are today. This morning, where do you stand before God?
"Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified." - 2 Corinthians 13:5
"Let us search out and examine our ways, And turn back to the Lord; Let us lift our hearts and hands To God in heaven." - Lamentations 3:40-41
In the church we have two very important doctrines. Sadly, one if often preached way more than the other. Both are doctrines; truths that have been set in stone and established in the faith. The first one is commonly called the Security of a True Believer. Many Baptists call it “Once Saved Always Saved.” This is the doctrine that every person who has truly and really believed in Jesus Christ is born again and they are secure. The very God who saved them will keep them saved––security of the believer.
Security of a Believer Verses
“Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, and to make you stand in the presence of His glory blameless with great joy.” ~ Jude 24
“For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” ~Romans 8:38-39
But there’s another doctrine which we do not hear much about. It’s not just the doctrine of security, but the doctrine of assurance. It is true that every true believer is kept by the power of God. The doctrine of assurance is this: How can you be assured, how can you know that you’re a true believer?
- I’ve had people tell me, “Well, I just know that I know.” I tell them there’s a way that seems right unto men. It leads to death. (Prov. 14:12 & 16:25)
- I’ve had people tell me, “Well, I know in my heart of hearts that I am saved.” The Bible says that the heart is deceitfully wicked. (Jer. 17:9)
- I’ve even had people tell me, “Well, I know I’m saved because the preacher told me I’m saved.” Since when did men have such authority?
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God. - 1 John 5:13
While the Bible teaches that believers can be assured that their salvation is eternally secure, it also warns about the counterfeit of false assurance.
Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. - Matthew 7:21
So we are to examine our lives to see where we are today. Tomorrow might be too late. Daily we are to reflect upon ourselves and see how we align with God’s holiness. If we’re honest, we all fall short, but it is His grace and mercy and keeps us.
The word examine comes from the Greek word, 'peirazo,' which means to “scrutinize and try.” We need to examine ourselves whether we are in the faith or not.
In addition to that, Paul said to test yourselves. Now, the Greek word used in the word test is 'dokimazo,' which is a stronger term compared to the Greek word 'peirazo.' It means to test as to metals. (like the TV show 'Forged in Fire')
How to Examine Your Life
1.Examine your relationship with God (prayer life, worship life, praise life, Scripture life, meditation life)
2.Examine your relationship with man. (fellowship, love, compassion)
"Little children, let us not love with word or with tongue, but in deed and truth. We will know by this that we are of the truth, and will assure our heart before Him." - 1 John 3:18-19
3. Examine your relationship with sin.
"Whoever has been born of God does not sin, for His seed remains in him; and he cannot sin, because he has been born of God." - 1 John 3:9
4. Examine your relationship with godly things. (church, serving, loving, sharing, caring)
This morning examine you life. Where are you spiritually this morning?
