Where Are You?

Time is change, by definition. It is matter in motion.

God is outside of time.

He doesn't change.

Yet, He does.

John 1:1-3

[1] In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.

[2] He was with God in the beginning.

[3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Jesus IS God. He IS the Father... and He is not.

Jesus is God in time.

Jesus IS change.

HE created the bubble of time that is our reality.

He is the Words on the page.

He IS the story.

He is the Book.

The Father, and the Spirit, in time. Yes, He always was. He always will be. He is the One we can relate to. He is the beginning and the end... of the story.

That story includes you.

Think this is crazy?

Consider then...

Adam and Eve:

Genesis 3:6-9

[6] When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

[7] Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves.

[8] Then the man and his wife heard the sound of the LORD God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the LORD God among the trees of the garden.

[9] But the LORD God called to the man, "Where are you?"

Even if you don't accept His sovereignty, you must understand that He DID, in fact, know exactly where they were... so, why did He ask?

Did Jesus not know, when the Father did?

Hebrews 1:3

[3] The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

exact

/iɡˈzak(t)/

The word exact means completely correct, accurate in every detail, or demanding and obtaining something by force.

As an Adjective

Accurate: Free from error, matching a standard or fact completely (e.g., the exact time).

Precise: Specific, identical, or leaving no room for variation (e.g., an exact replica).

Consider as well, the garden of Gethsemane:

Matthew 26:39

[39] Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, "My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will."

Does Jesus, the exact representation of the Father, and the Spirit, want or will something different from God, the Father?

No!

John 22:27

[27] "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? `Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour.

So, why did He ask the Father for something different, when He specifically came into the world to die and rise again?

I have said many times that faith is relational. It doesn't have anything to do with your will, decision, desperation, or wisdom. It has nothing to do with you, it is a gift that is given by God, a measure of Himself, His Spirit.

Romans 12:3

[3] For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

The Spirit, faith, given us by a measure. A measure chosen and given by God to an individual.

Remember the measure of the talents?

Add to it this:

Matthew 13:11-13

[11] He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them.

[12] Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him.

[13] This is why I speak to them in parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not hear or understand.

Jesus being God, in time...

John 3:34

[34] For the one whom God has sent speaks the words of God, for God gives the Spirit without limit.

Faith without limits! Of course He would have this, He IS the Father. Seeing all, sovereign overall, aware of all... even every hair on your head or thought in your heart.

NOTHING EXSITS OUTSIDE OF HIM!

John 1:3

[3] Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.

Colossians 1:13

[16] For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him.

Your doubts and fears over His sovereignty is not biblical and in the way of your relationship with Him.

However, of a truth, if He didn't want it so... It wouldn't be so.

Your doubt of His power has more to do with your doubt over His goodness. It shows a lack of knowing Him, of relationship with Him.

The Sadducees struggled with this. "Well, if I don't understand why He does what He does, it must not be Him!"

Faith is trust in Him ESPECIALLY when you don't have a clue why He does what He does!

He has gone to great lengths to be relatable. Like the guy who buried his talent, you avoid the questions, the very things you must swallow to have a closer, more intimate relationship with Him.

relatable

/rəˈlādəb(ə)l/

Relatable means easy to understand, connect with, or sympathize with because you share similar experiences or feelings.

God became a man.

He did it to lift up men.

Philippians 2:5-8

[5] Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:

[6] Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped,

[7] but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.

[8] And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death-- even death on a cross!

Yes, great lengths.

Matthew 25:24-25

[24] "Then the man who had received the one talent came. `Master,' he said, `I knew that you are a hard man, harvesting where you have not sown and gathering where you have not scattered seed.

[25] So I was afraid and went out and hid your talent in the ground. See, here is what belongs to you.'

Can you see it? The lazy man's response... it is a mockery of the Master's power, His sovereignty!

A "hard" man?"

"I was afraid".

Yes, God is in complete control, but to look at Him as "hard" is a statement that clearly shows a lack of relationship. It is like Paul writes in Romans 9 "How can God judge us!?"

He is called lazy because He took a tiny measure of faith and did nothing with it. It is God introducing Himself, and a man doesn't try to connect any further.

The guy who was given 10, made 10 more.

The guy given 5, made 5 more.

They grew the measure of faith, the connection, to the Relatable God, by seeking Him. That measure of faith grew... it doubled.

Some get more, some get a little less, it isn't the measure. It is how that faith grows in you. The heart it produces to seek Him, to know Him, to relate to Him.

Ignoring the intimacy is offensive to Him, the same way it would be to you. Don't bury that gift.

Of course you should have questions... "Why God?"

These are there, on purpose, to be relatable. No different than when God said to Adam... "Where are you?" Even though He most definitely knows.

He is asking you the same question...