Genesis is one of my favorite books of the Bible. I don’t know why, it just is. God speaks so much to me through that text and it’s a new revelation every time - I LOVE IT!
Well at the end of 2019, I shared a quick video on our Instagram (@Sowfull) of something God shared with me when reading Genesis 3. I felt the need to make a quick blog post here reviewing it for those who may not have social media or may have missed the post (if you want to view the video, it is still on Instagram under our IGTV videos).
In Genesis 3 it says...
“Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God walking in the garden at the time of the evening breeze, and they hid themselves from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. So the Lord God called out to the man and said to him, “Where are you? ””
Genesis 3:8-9
Here God is asking, “Where are you?” And I wondered...why is God asking this question? First of all, God knows all and sees all so He knew exactly where Adam was. Secondly, was Adam expected to be in a certain place? BINGO!! As you read Genesis, you learn that Adam used to meet with God daily at a certain time in the Garden of Eden to commune with Him. They were friends, companions. However, when Adam disobeyed God, His sin got him out of position. It interrupted his and God’s routine. Not only did his sin keep him from meeting with God but it knocked him out of heavenly places and caused him to hide from God!
Do Adam‘s actions sound familiar? I think so. Oftentimes we allow sin to get in the middle of our relationship with God and it knocks us out of alignment with God. We allow friendships/relationships that God doesn’t approve of, drunkenness, addictions, fornication, etc. to distract us and keep us from Him. And sin doesn’t always have to be blatant. Putting work and school before God and even ministry before God is idolatry and therefore a sin. Anything that is not of God, distracts us from Him or makes us cheat on Him is sin.
Have you ever noticed how when we fall short, we fall away from God? We stop reading the Word, stop praying, stop going to church like we used to. We fall into sin and then choose to sit there in our mess and when God comes looking for us, we “hide” from Him. However, when we fall short, that’s not the time to fall away from the Lord, that’s the time to run to Him. As we draw near to God, He draws near to us (James 4:8). He covers our nakedness (Gen. 3:21), cleanses us from all unrighteousness (1 John 1:9) and makes us new (2 Cor. 5:17). In this position, we find peace, wholeness and identity.
DISTRACTIONS.
It takes work...it takes effort to remain focused in a world full of distractions. It takes discipline to remain in God’s Presence when so many voices and temptations call out to us to pull us away. But our love for God must be greater. Our obedience must remain. We must be persistent and steadfast in position. Our intended position is with Christ. Our intended heart’s posture is bowed before Him.
We don’t have to work to earn God’s grace, love and mercy (Ephesians 2:8-9) but it does take work and effort on our part to remain focused and remain in alignment. (James 2:17 & Phil. 2:12-13)
THE FALL.
Adam was with God in heavenly places but allowed temptation to cause him to fall from his assigned position.
Thanks to Christ and His sacrifice, mankind is now back seated in Heavenly places (Ephesians 2:6). Let’s not allow temptation to make us fall away from our First Love. He enjoys meeting with us. He finds great delight in communing with us. Don’t cause God to have to ask, “Where are you?”
My heart has heard You say, "Come and talk with Me." And my heart responds, "LORD, I am coming."
Psalm 27:8