Text:
Genesis 3:8-9:
8 And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden.
9 And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?
Theme:
Where are you?
Introduction:
- Importance of location as a beginning of identification
- Must know where you’ve been AND where you are before you can know where you are going
- Genesis is the first book of the Bible and the first book of the 5 books of Law in the Bible.
- Genesis covers the longest period of time of any book of the bible, from the beginning of the world to the death of Joseph.
- Genesis means “source” or “beginning” which lends to its being called the “Book of Beginnings”.
- Genesis can be divided into three periods:
- Antediluvian period – Before the Flood
- Postdiluvian period – After the Flood
- Patriarchal period – Establishment of the patriarchal lineage of Jesus through the Jews, the chosen people of God.
- Our text appears out of the Antediluvian period during the well-known story of Adam and Eve.
- Adam and Eve enjoyed the traditional honor of being known as the first man and woman created by God on earth.
- They enjoyed living in the created paradise of Eden, a place of pleasure and provision limited only by the warning to not eat of one tree, the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.
- The serpent tempted Eve to eat of the Tree, believing the Devil when he said that after eating of the tree “then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil”.
- Then, Adam broke the covenant that he had with God by also eating of the Tree. At this point, sin enters into the world….Original Sin.
- Two things happened to bring us to the point of the text:
- Their eyes were opened – They could see!
- They knew that they were naked – They knew better!
Body:
- Our text is realized at this point in the story
- Immediately they heard God, His voice walking in the garden in the cool of the day.
- Adam and Eve REACTED!
- They hid themselves – Trying to hide from an omnipresent God
- Hid in the trees – Trying to hide in what cause the problem in the first place
- God called unto Adam
- Covenant was made with Adam
- God knows who is responsible and is not distracted by other people whom you are around when he needs answers.
- Even when your heart is hardened to God voice, your conscious beats you then.
- “Where art thou?” – Why ask when He already knew?
- God didn’t ask for God’s sake but for Adam’s sake
- God knows where Adam is, but does Adam know where Adam is?
- Knowing where you’ve been and where you are…prerequisites to knowing where you are going!
- We are either with Him or not, for Him or against Him.
- We need to be with Him
- As Paul says in Romans 8:31, “What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”
- Repent – Romans 3:23, Romans 10:10
- Believe in Jesus Christ — the born, lived, suffered, hung, bled, died, buried, and rose again for the remission of sins – Romans 10:9
- Be baptized – Acts 2:38
- Receive the Holy Ghost – John 14:26
Conclusion:
Where are you…when God’s voice is walking through the garden of your life in the cool of the day.
Are you hiding from God?
Let God hide you!
Psalms 27:5, “For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock.”
Are you running from God?
Run to God and not from Him!
Psalm 119:32, “I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.”
Are you lying to yourself?
Let the Truth lead you to Salvation!
John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
Are you trying to live right?
Don’t give up!
Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Where am I?
As Abraham and Samuel said, Here am I!
Just as I am, without one plea,
But that thy blood was shed for me.
And that Thou bidd’st me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!
Just as I am, Thou wilt receive,
Wilt welcome, pardon, cleanse, relieve,
Because Thy promise I believe,
O Lamb of God, I come!
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