Where Are You?
This question in our title is asked often. I sometimes hear this when my wife is expecting me to be in a certain place at a certain time and I’m delayed, and she calls me. Folks are asked this when someone calls out to them and they respond, but can’t see them. It’s also possible you’ve also been asked this if you were on a journey and someone calls to check your progress. The reasons why this question may be asked is dependent on various factors, and too numerous to discuss in this, or any other article. But these mentioned above, are in reference to one’s physical presence in a particular location. True, your location at any particular point in time might, or might not have much impact.
However, there is an application of this same question which should be of great importance to everyone, because it has eternal implications. That is “Where are you spiritually?”. Sadly, many who embrace any number of the many different “faiths” that are prevalent in our society think that everyone is in the “same place” from a spiritual standpoint. Each earnestly argues they are “faithfully serving God” and claim to be “one of His”. Did not God address this in Amos 3:3 when the Spirit had the prophet Amos pen “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?”
Can folks teach, believe and practice different things from a religious or any other viewpoint and be in the same place? As Jesus was traveling toward Jerusalem, going through the cities and villages, teaching, He was asked, “Lord, are there few that be saved?” (Luke 13:23). In response, He taught the narrowness (“strait gate”) through which one must pass to become part of the kingdom (the church). Some who refused to obey the requirements of entrance for whatever reason, upon demanding that the Lord “open unto us” (vs 25), were told “I know you not whence ye are”. This is in essence, “I don’t know you from where you are”. In verse 27, this is followed by “depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity.”
Iniquity is sin. Those who are workers of iniquity are those who continue to live in sin. Jesus was telling these, His own people, that in their present state, (whence ye are), He did not know them. Their refusal to accept His teaching on the kingdom placed them in opposition to Christ. The Law and the prophets taught of the Christ and the kingdom. To go against the Law and prophets was sin. Their refusal to accept Jesus as the Christ, hear His teaching and obey it, (“repent for the kingdom is at hand ”) was to be where they should not be. Where they were, (in refusing the Christ), also aligned them against Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and the prophets, the faithful servants of God.
The Jews of Jesus’ day, placed great importance upon being physical descendants of Abraham. According to the Law of Moses, this was what constituted a covenant relationship with God, and applied to the Jews alone. In Jesus’ day, that Law was still in effect and binding. However, according to Col. 2:14, Christ, in His death on the cross, blotted out “the handwriting of ordinances” (the O.T. Law), “took it out of the way, nailing it to His cross”. He had fulfilled that Law and put it away. Beyond that time, for the Jews to be in a covenant relationship with God, they would have to be “in Christ” (in the kingdom). The New Law, which included the terms of entrance into the kingdom was preached to the Jews, beginning on the first Pentecost following the death, burial and resurrection of the Christ. The biblical account of this is recorded in Acts chapter 2.
This would later be preached to all, Jew and Gentile, just as was foretold in the Law and the prophets. This afforded all the opportunity to hear the New Testament Word of God, gladly accept it, and obey it. All who do so, become “in Christ”. In Acts 2:41 we read: “they that gladly received his word were baptized: and the same day there were added unto them about three thousand souls.”. Acts 2:47b shows “And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.” All who were obedient to the gospel were “added” to the church and were “in Christ”. This put them, whether Jew or Gentile, in a covenant relationship with God. Then, it is up to that person to remain faithful to God and remain in Christ. This relationship is maintained through continued fidelity and growth as one reads, studies, meditates on, and lives according to God’s New Testament Word.
Where Are You? Specifically, where are you spiritually? In Phil. 4:3, Paul wrote to some whose “names were in the book of life”. These were faithful Christians which met in that city. These were those who had obeyed the gospel and were now “in Christ”. They had entered into a proper covenant relationship with God and Christ. 2Tim 2:19 informs, “The Lord knoweth them that are his.”, and admonishes: “Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.” Let us also remember that iniquity on our part will cause God to remove our name from that book of life because of our sin.
Why not obey the gospel today? Why not have your name written in the book of life? Why not live faithfully according to the Word? Why not prepare now, so you can properly respond to the question “Where are you”?, You then can answer it honestly and faithfully, In Christ.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
