Man Hides: GOD Calls, “Where Art Thou?”

And Man Hides

According to a Simple Layman

In the Garden, after man saw good and evil for the first time, he hid from God.

He has been hiding from God ever since. In the Garden, he hid among the trees; today, the hiding places take different forms.

For a time—and sometimes for an entire lifetime—man will hide in his sin. In fact, for a while, he may actually enjoy it. It may seem pleasant to him. Some poor souls never climb out of that place, even though the sin probably no longer tastes so sweet.

Sin appears to provide a hiding place from God. It may take the form of drugs, alcohol, illicit sex, or countless other bondages. It is not difficult to surround oneself with like-minded people who enjoy the same brand of sin. It seems to provide a hiding place from God—or so we think.

Men may also seek refuge from God by pursuing another form of sin: worldly “success,” at least as they define success. They may have a good education, a successful career, a spouse and children, a fine home, automobiles, and any number of toys. They may surround themselves with like-minded people and congratulate one another on the high level of success they appear to have achieved.

They are hiding from God just as surely as the person caught in the mire of a less acceptable form of sin. They, too, are caught, but their brand of sin wears a more respectable and deceptive face.

Through grace, and grace alone, men may come to know the God who created them. Their idea of success may then change—or it may not.

Yet, even in their pursuit of knowing more about God, they may soon find themselves hiding from Him again.

Where?

There are many hiding places within those man-made institutions wrongly called the Church. Behind traditions, theology, dogma, and doctrines, men can find a multitude of places to hide.

All the while, we can hear the echo of God calling to Adam:

“And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?” — Genesis 3:9