Where Are You? by Myra Boozer

Many times during the day, when our grandson was little and here, we would hear these words, “Where are you Papa?” Or, “Where are you Nana?” This is an important question for a young child. When this question was asked, we didn't hesitate. We would respond quickly!

I want to ask you that question today. Where are you? You may say I am at home, or I am on the job. Maybe you are in school or in the Military. You could even be on vacation, seeing the many beautiful sights in our world. This is what we think of when the question is asked. We respond to where we are physically.

In Genesis 3, God asked Adam that question, "And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?" This is the response that Adam gave, "And he said, I heard thy voice in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked; and I hid myself. And he said, Who told thee that thou wast naked? Hast thou eaten of the tree, whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?" The answer Adam gave has stuck with us down through the ages. "And the man said, The woman whom thou gavest to be with me, SHE gave me of the tree, and I did eat." It is the transfer of accountability to someone other than ourselves. We have a very hard time accepting responsibility for our actions. So, we blame someone else for where we actually are in our lives.

I truly understand disappointment, heartbreak, broken homes, verbal abuse, lack of security, and unworthy condemnation. But with all of that, we are still responsible for our reaction to life and all it brings. We alone are responsible for the choices we make. Adam could have answered, “NO” to Eve. He could have reminded her of the command that God gave them about not eating of that one tree. Only one tree was forbidden. Of course, in the next verse, God asked Eve, "What is this thou hast done? And the woman said, The serpent beguiled me, and I DID eat."

I do not read anymore of God communing with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day. However, I did read where "...God sent them forth from the garden of Eden, to till the ground from whence he was taken, So he drove out the man;" Genesis chapter 3. There are definitely consequences to all our decisions! (continued)