Where are you?

Where are you?
Genesis 3:8-9 (NLT) When the cool evening breezes were blowing, the man and his wife heard the lord God walking about in the garden. So they hid from the lord God among the trees.Then the lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”

Introduction: I welcome you to speaking Scriptures. There is possibility to be in the Lord’s Garden and hide from God like Adam and Eve in our text. In other words, there is possibility of being in church but dwell in darkness.
This week, let us look at the vital question from God to Adam, the first man created by God through whom all humanity emanated. God requires our answer, it is personal, and the answer will determine our Christian walk with God,
The question is “Where are you “?

We read that Adam and his wife hid from God, there is tendency to think that God was searching for Adam in the Garden and that was why He called out; Adam where are you? I cannot see you.
Surely that was not what that question meant. Why? God does not play hide and seek because there is no hiding place for anyone before God.
Scriptures speak in NLT version of Jeremiah 23:24
🗣 Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?” says the Lord.
We can establish it also in Psalms 139:7-8 (NLT) where David said;
🗣 I can never escape from your Spirit! I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there; if I go down to the grave, you are there.

If you hide from man or your spouse, you cannot hide from God who is the judge of all.
What then does that question mean if God had known where Adam and Eve were hiding?
God wanted to know their stand. God will want to know whose side you are.
🗣 Exodus 32:25-26 And when Moses saw that the people were naked; (for Aaron had made them naked unto their shame among their enemies:) Then Moses stood in the gate of the camp, and said, Who is on the Lord’s side? let him come unto me. And all the sons of Levi gathered themselves together unto him.

Adam and Eve were also exposed after yielding to Satan’s suggestion to disobey God. That was why they were hiding. In your daily pursuit and decisions, Where are you?Are you on the Lord side?What are you hiding?
If you hide from God, you will surely hide from your spouse. Does your spouse know everything about you?
Before Satan got between Adam and Eve, they were both naked and not ashamed. But after yielding to sin, shame threw them into hiding.
As we move on towards eternity, everyone will have to make a choice between life and death.
🗣 Deut. 30:19 I call heaven and earth to record this day against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing: therefore choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live:
Those who belong to Jesus have chosen life;
🗣 John 14:6 (NLT) Jesus told him, “ I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me.
Any other choice is death;
🗣 John 3:36 He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.
🗣 John 5:24(NLT) “I tell you the truth, those who listen to my message and believe in God who sent me have eternal life. They will never be condemned for their sins, but they have already passed from death into life.
What is your choice?Where are you? When God instituted marriage, He said; leave your father and mother and cleave to your wife, whose side are you on this matter? God’s instruction or traditions of men?

By asking Adam where he was, God was asking Adam to choose whom to serve; remember God said; eating this fruit will bring death; and Satan said; you shall not surely die. Where are you then means; who do you want to serve and obey?
🗣 Joshua 24:15 (NLT) But if you are unwilling to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”
Joshua made this call to Israelites and letting them know his choice.
As a spiritual Israelite, you will be required to make known whom you are serving. It is impossible to serve God and Mammon.
Satan made obedience to God as evil when he told Adam and Eve; “ You won’t die!” the serpent replied to the woman. “God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil.” Genesis 3:4-5 (NLT)

In what ways are you disobeying God in your marriage, business and in every sphere of life?
Have you been told that you’re archaic as it relates to your spouse? Have you been told that your spouse has charmed you? Do you feel your eyes are not opened to modern ways of marital relationships? How is your relationship with your spouse? Living as lovers or tenants?
Remember the originator of marriage made them one. Modern counsel may say; Don’t allow your spouse to know everything about you, are you following worldly ways of life?
Hear what the Scripture speaks; Jeremiah 6:16(NLT)
🗣 This is what the Lord says: “Stop at the crossroads and look around. Ask for the old, godly way, and walk in it. Travel its path, and you will find rest for your souls. But you reply, ‘No, that’s not the road we want!’
God is asking; which road are you taking? Towards family traditions or towards God’s instructions? Where are you?
You cannot have two opinions in making decisions. It is either you tilt towards God or traditions of men.
🗣 1 Kings 18:21 And Elijah came unto all the people, and said, How long halt ye between two opinions? if the Lord be God, follow him: but if Baal, then follow him. And the people answered him not a word.
You must have your own opinion about marriage, and ways of living. You cannot not be in-between the world system and God’s ways.
For instance, If your wife is regarded as not part of your family when you are having family meetings, it is the tradition of men that I observe in Nigeria, what is your opinion vis-a-vis God’s expectations? There is need to make your stand known.
Conclusion : Romans 6:16(NLT) Don’t you realize that you become the slave of whatever you choose to obey? You can be a slave to sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God, which leads to righteous living.
God is asking; where are you? On whose side are you? Who do you obey? Whose report do you believe?
Jesus wrote to the Lukewarm Church in Rev. 3:15-16(NLT)
🗣 “ I know all the things you do, that you are neither hot nor cold. I wish that you were one or the other! But since you are like lukewarm water, neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of my mouth!
God is aware of all things that we do. We cannot hide it from God, where are you doesn’t mean God does not see you, He just wants to know your stand.