What do you suppose is the most important question anyone has asked? 

• Is there a God?
• What is my purpose?
• What vocation should I pursue?
• What should I have for dinner?

Well maybe not that last one…although it is a pretty important question we all are wrestling with each day during Covid!

These are all really important questions.  But the most important question, I believe was actually asked by God himself!

Did you know that God asks questions?  I said in an earlier devotions that we see in Jesus that God has a curiosity….what seems like an insatiable appetite…to ask us questions.  Jesus asked 307 questions while he was on earth!  307!

Well, back to the most important question….the one that God the Father asked.

It’s the question, “Where are you?   

Three simple words that form a question.  Where. Are. You.?

Did Adam and Eve’s Creator not know where His created beings were?  No, he saw them trembling behind that bush.  He asked, “Where are you?” because He wanted them to know that He was looking for them…that He wanted to be back in relationship with them…that He loved them.

And our Creator has been asking his Creation that question ever since.  He is asking you and me every day….”Where are you?”  Where are you in relationship with me?  Are you close by or feeling far away?

And He is not asking this in a haunting way…as scolding way.  No, he is asking this in a longing way… loving way.

God, my Creator, helped me to understand his loving question many years ago when one of our twin boys…Ryan, age 5….got lost. Dori was at work and I was supposed to be diligently watching them outside and was doing a good job until the phone rang and I went inside to answer it.  When I came back out a minute later, he was not there.  I frantically searched everywhere….all of his favorite hiding places and he was no where to be found.  I ran up and down the street, looked in the rhododendron, everywhere.  And I began to imagine the worst.  I kept yelling his name and called 911…with tears I begged the police to come.

And then out of the woods….right over there….I saw Ryan coming towards me.  I ran and hugged him and then scolded him and then hugged him again!  He was back.  We were together! 

Later that day the Lord whispered in my heart….”Now you know how hard I went looking for you…and your neighbors!”

Let me remind us today….that He loves us and is eagerly looking for each of us.  How will you answer His question…. “Where are you?”