Scripture

Our verse for today comes from Genesis 3:9, “Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, ‘Where are you?'”

Background

In real estate you hear it all the time. The three most important things are location, location, and location. A house on the sound side of the ocean is nice, but one with a beachfront is supreme. A mountain home is lovely, but it’s much more desirable on a hilltop with a clear view of the surrounding peaks and the valley below. Even your current residence, as spectacular or as Spartan as it may be, would be all that and more if placed along the 17-mile drive of the Monterey Peninsula, or squeezed in amongst the twists and turns of San Francisco’s Lombard Street. Imagine its desirability if it were located in the high-rent district of Manhattan. Yes, location matters. But what about why you’re there? How good is your location if you need to be in the heart of the economic bustle, but you’re out on the shore surrounded by dunes? And if you desire peace and solitude and the beauty of the changing autumn leaves, living near Wall Street or, say, downtown Dallas, does you no good. Where you are is important, but the reason you are there is critical.

Application

God asked Adam where he was. But Adam knew what God really meant, so much so that he didn’t even answer God’s question. It was obvious that he was hiding. But Adam needed to confess why he was hiding. Hanging out among the cedar trees of the garden was probably one of Adam and Eve’s favorite pastimes. Those woods have probably yet to be equaled in their loveliness and serenity. But this time they were there for all the wrong reasons, and they needed to come to terms with that. Physically, geographically, you may be in a good spot, a nice, comfortable spot. But why are you there? Emotionally, spiritually, you may be somewhere completely askew from God’s Spirit. Why are you there? Externally, it may appear that you’re well-placed and doing alright. But is that really the case? Are the ‘where’ and the ‘why’ of your heart and body in accord with God’s? He’s asking, so what are you answering?

Charge

As we seek Him today, consider what you might be hiding or running from. Bring your misplaced heart to God and let Him upgrade your location.

Salvation – Eternal Life in Less Than 150 Words