“Where are you?” That statement dates back to the beginning of time. That question was the first question that God asked man after man sinned in the Garden of Eden. “Where are you?” Imagine that God is asking you that same question today! Imagine that the purpose for your being, is asking that question today! Imagine that your community and the predestined boundaries of your existence are with one voice asking – “Where are you?”.
Oh, once upon a time you were the leader of the group. Oh, you were the chief usher for your fellowship back on campus, you were the sister’s leader, bible study secretary, head of a subgroup, president of a society, pastor of a fellowship! Oh you were great, you were grand, your results were exceptional, your story was unique and you made a mark! The question today however is not where were you, or who were you or what did you do? Today’s question is “Where are you?”. Where are you today, and what exactly is your story? Or let me put it more succinctly, what is your excuse? Don’t be tongue tied, you might find your answer within the first answer ever given!
“I heard you in the garden and I was afraid because I was naked. I hid myself” – Adam
1. I heard you in the garden and I was afraid
Are you in a place where the lack of alignment between God’s promises to you 10 years ago, and your current lifestyle evokes fear? Are you so far off what you believed your potentials were, that you fear that your life may have missed the mark? When you hear of some of your colleagues and the good turns that their lives have taken, does it fill you with fear? Do you heartily rejoice with the news of others’ progress or do you weep inside? The same words that filled you with excitement and joy, do they now fill you with fear?
Sometimes I’m tempted to wonder how the people who once pastored our current pastors’ feel today? I wonder how brighter and much more accomplished classmates of the current captains of industry feel? I wonder the quality of social impact, political power or economic empowerment comes from those rated most likely to succeed. If the voice that once relaxed you and got you engaging in thoughts and plans for your future now scares you, you need to turn away from your current track and repent!
2. Because
Whenever this word enters into your phrase or sentence, it means that your life and future are not totally your responsibility. Words like they, theirs, them, he, she, her and because are signposts of a life of dependency. If the question “where are you?” evokes any answer linked to “because”, you are not yet the co-architect of your destiny. I am where I am today, because… there was no choice, I didn’t finish with a good grade, it’s my background, I didn’t get a good break e.t.c. There is no reason strong enough for living a mediocre life.
So where are you? Are you living a life you are happy about? Do you feel trapped? Do you have the life you dreamed about years ago, or have you become a realist and settled for because? If you are not on track, can you get back on the track?
3. I was naked
Are you giving free reigns and full expression to your talents? Or are you cowering and taking refuge under the cover of shyness, timidity and shame? Have you “Seen yourself finish?”. Are you so totally consumed with your realities that your dreams no longer make sense? Contrary to your likely to succeed profile, have you decided to see yourself as common, trivial and not worth much?
Are you where you are because you feel naked on your own? Are you enjoying the false security of a system that clothes you under the insecurity of another man? Does your current employer or core work give you the impression of being clothed? Is your comfort derived from knowing that if you leave your current sheltered life, you will be naked?
4. I hid myself
The first 3 answers were child’s play compared to this one. Where are you? Are you somewhere hiding? Are you known? Are you relevant? Or are you hiding obscurity under humility? Are you camouflaging irrelevance with the cloak of responsibility? Are you in hiding? Do you have capacity to do much more than what you are currently doing? Is your light shining from a visible pedestal or are you dulling? Our design is to shine not hide. We are meant to be generous with our lives, are you generous with yours? Can you say your light is lighting up the paths for others to follow, can you say that you are light bearer ? Are you an entrepreneur hiding in employment? Are you a pastor hiding in the pew? Are you shining your light or hiding it!
Where are you?!
