"Where are you?"

But the Lord God called to the man and said to him, “Where are you?” (Genesis 3:9; ESV).

Moments after Adam and Eve disobeyed God's one commandment (do not eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil that is in the center of the garden), God came searching for him. And He continues His search today. God says to each of us, "Where are you?" Not because He doesn't know - believe me He does. The question is more for us than for God. It is intended to reveal that we are lost (or hiding from God), and to get us to realize it is we who left God - not He who left us.

Sadly, even when we had only one command, we (the human race) failed. We wanted to be like God. We are no different today - wanting our own way, our own timing - after all, who doesn't want to be "in control". And in wanting to be like God, we become completely unlike Him. He is holy. He is relational. He is giving. He is faithful. And we are - well, not so much.

Ironies ensued. Man, made from dust would return to dust. Made to steward the earth, the earth rebelled against us. Made to procreate and fill the earth, labor became painful. Made to be one in union, men and women instead are often in conflict, focusing on our differences instead of appreciating and valuing our unique complementary natures.

But God did not leave us there. Even in chapter 3 of the first book of the Bible, God was the first missionary, seeking the lost that they may be found. "Where are you?"

We continue in a long line of missionaries. We, the Church, are God's hands and feet, cooperating with His Holy Spirit, to seek the lost that they may be found and saved.

And we have God's good news to share. Instead of only one thing forbidden (eating the fruit of that one tree), now there is only one thing required (faith in the God-man who died on that one tree - the cross).

Let's join God our Father and Maker in reaching out to our friends, relatives, acquaintances, neighbors and co-workers (FRANC), gently aksing