Mensa Otabil - Where Are You? (10/03/2025)
As you know, this week we are asking questions and answering them. So, the second question: Where are you? Genesis chapter 3, verse 9: "Then the Lord God called to Adam and said to him, 'Where are you?'" This is, incidentally, the first question asked in the Bible. God posed the question to Adam after Adam and Eve had disobeyed Him and felt unworthy to be in His presence. God asked them the question, "Where are you?" When God asks us a question, He's not asking from a place of ignorance; He's not asking for you to give Him information to know. When God asks a question, He already knows the answer, but He wants you to find the answer for yourself. Many times, we don't know where we are in life. We don't know whether we are lost or found, whether we are doing well or not. So, where are you?
I believe that this question God asked Adam is still relevant for us today. It's a question that will help us shed hypocrisy and truly identify our place in life. Where you are is always related to something. If somebody asks you where you are, you look around and say, "Well, if you're in the house, you say, 'I'm in the bedroom' or 'I'm in the living room.'" Or, if you are out somewhere, you might say, "I'm in the market." You are always where you are in relation to something.
But there has to be something greater to which we relate when we want to find out where we are, and that's God. So when you are asked where you are, you measure your location in proximity to God. How close are you to God's purpose for your life and His intention for you? To discover where we are in life, there are a few things we need to examine. First, whom does God want me to become? Where I am will be related to whom He wants me to become, and that question has to do with our character and personal growth in life. Whom does God want me to become? What kind of person am I supposed to be? A kind person? A nice person? A gentle person? An influential person? What kind of person am I meant to become?
Second, what does God want to do with my life? This relates to your professional growth. What kind of things are you supposed to do with your life, your gifts, your talents? How are you supposed to use them? The third question to ask is, where does God want me to be?
Now, you can get the first right and the second right, but if you get the third wrong, you could be placed in the wrong position. As they say, you can be a round peg in a square hole. So, if you're not properly positioned in life, the other two won't work. You need to know whom God wants you to become, what God wants you to do with your life, and where He wants you to be.
Location and destination: Are you in the place where He wants you to be? Are you in the situation where He wants you to be? Am I where God wants me to be? So, that question, "Where are you?" is always related to how close you are to God's intentions and purposes for your life.
I ask you: Where are you in relation to what God wants you to become, what God wants to do with your life, and where God wants you to be? These are three important questions to answer in relation to where you are.
Let's pray. Say with me: Heavenly Father, I want to be where You want me to be. Help me to stay close to You at all times. In Jesus' name, Amen and Amen. Well, my friend, I hope you know where you are. I'm Pastor Mensa Otabil. Shalom, peace, and life to you.