The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-12-27
a Searching Question.

(Selected for The Times-Dlsputch.)
s.And the Lord God called unto Adam
and said unto him.: Where art thou?"
Genesis. iii: o.
Only little while before Adam had
joycd in loving and obedient intercourse
with his Maker and his Friend
In the cool Of the day they had walked
amid the sweet fields of Eden, and held
converse, sweetened on his part by filial
reverence and gratitude.
But now all is changed, and Adam flies
in terror from the voice which calls him
to the accustomed tryst The past, the
happy, innocent past is gone, and the
pleasures Of Paradise can no longer de-
light; and the one desire of the wretched
man is to hide-futile endeavor-from tho
eye Of Omnlscience. &
You will readily recall the whole pitlful
story; how formed In the image Of God,
placed in this fair garden Of Eden, fed
by Gods bounty nurtured by Ills love
All things were given unto Adam with
the sole exception Of one tree, as the test
of his obedience 4
Tempted. he fell and lost It all. Full
OF terror and renlorse. he fled, not dar-
Ing to meet his justly offended God.
But notice that In spite Of his weak
ness and sin, God seeks him. It is ever
thus. Tho Good Shepherd seeks His poor
lost sheep-not the sheep the shepherd
And the shepherd seeks until he finds
The whole shameful transaction is per-
fectly known to the Creator. But God
will make him discover his scant shelter
and tell his own sad story. Where art
thou?" And Adam must reply; his own
lips shall bear witness to Gods justice
and truth.
The words come to us to-day with q
peculiar force and meaning. Many or
few may be the years that lie behind us,
but We are all standing to-day In the
light Of the last Sabbath Of 1903. Tho
hours arc swiftly going; wo cannot ar
rest them If we would. and soon they
Will be gone.
Tho tolls and tears, tho joys and sor-
rows, the illness and trials. the loneli-
ness and anxiety that have been our por-
ton during the past twelve months Will
soon be but a memory. AS we retrace 1t
In silent thought we seem to know more
surely the way we have been led and
the providence which has surrounded US,
In spite OF all our misdolng.
God asks each one of US. where art
thou? Placed In my world, nourished by
my care, guarded on every side endowed
with reason, health, friends and manifold
blessings, what hast thou done2 Where
| 80 To- 1,n
| obedience promised?
| Look back over the past years, See
what have done for thee. and then con-
trast It with what thou hast done for
mo. Strike the balance and tell the
truth Where art thou, o man? Through
all tho years of helpless infancy, through
all the perils of youth. in the stress OF
manhood. In prosperity and In adversely,
God has been near thee to guide and bless
continually. Have you received Him?
Have you ever thanked Him?
1t Is time to probe. to probe deeply,
and thus find ont the truth. Ask your
self; Where are my feet to-dayP Arc
they standing stcadfast In the path OF
truth and honor? Are they swift to dc
good works and my tongue to tho law OF
kindness? Is my heart kept tender aud low
!ng,and pure? Solemn questions these. my
friends, but necdful, Make a thorough
examination, and do not finch
"Whero art thou2 Amid scenes OF
worldly pleasure only7 or Immersed ~
the mad rush for gold? Are you incasec
in cold and sitting selflshness2
Where would Christ find you II He
should come to-nght2 And would yot
like to meet Him there? lie Will come
and lio will find you wherever you are
and your own lips shall pronounce YOU
doom.
The wise merchant scans his books tina
he may know at the end Of the year JUS
where he stands.
"Where art thou?" The books for 1870
are nearly closed, and with them You
record. What Is that record9 Are yol
satisfied With It or proud Of It? II " nov