THIS question was addressed by the Lord to Adam after his shameful fall. Man had eaten of the tree whereof God had commanded him that he should not eat. Sin had entered and marred God’s fair creation, and the man who before, in innocence, had been happy in the presence of his Maker now seeks to hide from Him.
And why? Because he finds now within himself an accusing conscience. He has lost his garments of innocence and discovers that he is naked―naked before God, and he is afraid.
Reader, have your eyes been opened to this yet―that you are naked before Him; that He discerns the innermost thoughts of your heart, and sees you through and through? “Where art thou?” Have you found that as a child of Adam you are at a distance from God? Sin has separated you from Him, and ere you can meet Him without fear you must know that sin is forever put away.
But Adam did not think thus at first; so he seeks to cover himself with an apron of his own devising, and thus clothed, thinks he may be able to appear before God.
Alas! how many are to be found in this day, who, like him, are sewing together fig-leaves for the same purpose. Multitudes there are in this land alone, who think that if they live moral lives and go to church or chapel on Sundays it will be all right with them in the end. But how solemn is the truth that all such will assuredly find, sooner or later, all their own righteousness to be but as filthy raga in His sight.
Reader, in what are you clothed? Is it the spotless righteousness of God? Be assured that in nothing less than this will you be able to stand before Him. Nothing else will be of any avail. All man’s attempts at improvement, all his efforts to reform the flesh, his religious forms and ceremonies, his good deeds so-called, all, all will be unavailing in that day. See to it, then, that your righteousness is that which will bear the gaze of His all-seeing eye. Not a speck or taint of sin can pass unnoticed by that Holy One.
Again, then, let us ask, “Where art thou?” Adam was at a distance from God, in a fallen condition; he was lost. And such is the state by nature of every soul born into this world. This is your present condition, unless you have been “born again” of the Spirit of God.
But there is something more in these words, “Where art thou?” They were uttered by a seeking God, a God in grace seeking the sinner. God comes out to bring lost man back to Himself. But man’s sin must be brought home to him, and so the question comes, “Hast thou eaten of the tree whereof I commanded thee that thou shouldest not eat?” Man must see his helpless condition. Then the promise of a Savior is given. The seed of the woman shall bruise the serpent’s head. Adam believed God, and next we read (vs. 21), “Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins and clothed them.” No mention of the fig-leaf aprons. They are worthless. And how could these coats of skins be obtained? Only by the shedding of blood. Precious type of the blood-shedding of the Lord Jesus. Sin must be put away, but “without shedding of blood is no remission.” “It is the blood that maketh an atonement for the soul.” That atonement has been made. Christ has died. The barrier which stood between the sinner and God has been removed. The sinner who believes in Jesus is saved. He has a righteousness imputed to him which is not his own. It is the righteousness of God. Thus clothed, boldly will he be able to stand when heaven and earth shall pass away, and neither angel nor devil will be able to lay aught to his charge. He will not be there on the ground of his own works, but on account of the work of another. He will not be arrayed in his own righteousness, but in another’s; and the song he will ring will be “Unto him that loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood.” If it were possible for a soul to get to heaven in any other than God’s way, that soul would not be able to join in that song. He would raise a discordant note in that blest abode. But such is impossible, for it is by “grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.”
Unsaved reader, still far from God, let this question of the seeking One reach your heart, “Where art thou?” Are you going on carelessly in sin, following the course of this world?
He in mercy yearneth over you, and willeth not that you should perish.
Are you one who up to this present time has been weaving for yourself a garment of morality or religion? Away with it at once. Deceive not yourself. Get off such a sandy foundation.
Christ is preached to you as God’s righteousness―the only foundation.
Of each one, who, like the prodigal, forgetful of the joys of the Father’s house, is wandering in the far-off country, His voice in grace is heard asking “Where art thou?” He has a heart of love to pour out upon each returning one. The kiss, the ring, the best robe―all are waiting. Then
“Return, O wanderer, to thy home,
Thy Father calls for thee;
No longer now an exile roan,
In sin and misery.”
Let each one who reads these lines ask himself, or herself, “Where am I?” Am I still far from God, or have I been brought nigh by the blood of Jesus? Am I saved or unsaved?
G.J.H