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By Dr. Howdy, Ph.D.
A.P.E., N.U.T.
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Friday
Where Are You?
Albert Einstein once said, "I want to know [God's] thoughts; the rest
are details." His words declare a lofty feat, possibly in earnestness,
possibly in arrogance. Yet, it is a quote that can set us thinking.
It seems humanity's search for God is often largely about humanity-
what we want, what we need, what we feel we deserve, what we think
God must be like. And we are often quite proud of ourselves for
searching, for having an inquisitive personality, and an openness
to spirituality. But if the one we search for is the sovereign God,
isn't this line of thought somewhat ridiculous? We've never been out
of his reach, out of his sight.
I have often wondered how much of our searching is more or less
insignificant details. While we're disagreeing about the kind of God we
want to find, we've already been found. In our quest for God, even as we
credit ourselves for exploring, how much is more accurately God's
searching for us? Why is there so little talk of God's search for
humanity, God's quest for you?
The Scriptures tell us that from the very beginning of time God has
pursued the human heart, calling out, "Where are you?" when we have
strayed, "What do you want?" as we stand before Him, and "Whom are you
looking for?" even as we search. In fact, "Where are you?" is the first
question recorded in Scripture. (See Genesis 3:9.) Sensing God's presence
after eating what was forbidden, Adam and Eve hid among the trees. And
God asked Adam, "Where are you?"
But if the God we seek and hide from is the one whose breath brought dust
to life, it was not for God's sake that He posed the question. You and I
needed to be asked.
One of my favorite scenes in all of literature is in The Last Battle of
C.S. Lewis's Narnian tales. Though many had never seen him, faith in
Aslan was common in Narnia, whereas, men of other lands followed Tash.
But growing tired of contradicting claims and hypocritical followers, the
dwarfs decide to declare defiantly, "The dwarfs are for the dwarfs,"
rejecting belief in anything but themselves, refusing to answer to anyone,
renouncing everything they can't see. Later, the Last Battle is over.
Aslan has won. The scene has transformed from a dirty stable into the
beautiful Narnia. Yet curiously, the dwarfs sit hunched as if they are
still in the stable. When asked to stand up and admire the sun and the
sky, scenes greener and truer than anyone had ever seen, a dwarf replies,
"How in the name of all humbug can I see what ain't there?"(1)
I have often wondered if it was this Narnian scene Lewis had in mind when
he said, "I believe in Christianity as I believe the sun has risen, not
only because I see it but because, by it, I see everything else."(2)
To cut ourselves off from God's Word is to blind ourselves from life
itself. The intensity of God's search for humanity and his desire for us
to see clearly are illumined in the questions He puts before us. "Where
are you?" asks the Lord. "Who do you say that I am?" asks Christ. His
questions penetrate all of our hiding spots and pierce the self-deception
that blinds us from seeing God and ourselves in the light of truth. "Do
you love me?" he asks. "Do you want to be made well?"
If today, you stood up, wherever you are, in your place in life, where are
you? Are you hiding? Running? Are you blinded to the truth because it is
not the truth you want to see? Or maybe the words of the hymnist ring true
for your life:
Jesus sought me when a stranger,
Wand'ring from the fold of God;
He to rescue me from danger,
Brought me to his precious blood.(3)
There is a point in God's search where the next move depends on your
answer. This new year, let us wholly recognize that his questions elicit
a response. Where are you? Jill Carattini
(1) C.S. Lewis, The Last Battle. (Collier Books: New York, 1956), 144.
(2) C.S. Lewis, The Weight of Glory. (Sans Francisco: Harper, 1980),
140.
(3) John Wyeth, Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing.
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