The Raymer enterprise., 1916-06-15

reason why some men never darken q
church door; they fear that they may
meet God. You know we are told
that Adam tried to hide himself amidst
the trees Of the garden just as II ma
terial things could shut out Gods view
Of him. as II Gods eye could not pene
trate the trees and see Adam where
he was. THE eyes OF the Lord says
one Of old. run to and fro throughout
the whole earth" And the Psalmist
asks. Whittier shall | go from thy
spirit or whittier shall fee from thy
presence? II | ascend into heaven
thou art there; II take the wings ol
the morning and dwell in the utter
most parts OF the sea- even there shall
thy hand lead me. and thy right hand
shall hold me. II say. surely the
darkness shall cover me; even the
night shall be light, about me. Yea
the darkness hideth not from thee,
but the night shineth as the days; the
darkness and the light are both alike
to thee" How utterly impossible II
is to get away from God. There is nc
way for man to escape the Almighty
neither earth nor heaven nor hell hai
in II hiding place from him. Dark
ness cannot shut man from his vision
II may hide hellish deeds so that mer
may not see them. but the eyes OF ths
Almighty not only penetrate through
inky blackness but search the inner
most recesses OF mans being.
God did not ask this question ol
Adam because he was ignorant Of
Adams place in the garden. but he
asked II TO bring Adam to a realiza
tion OF his sinful condition, that
he might reveal himself to Adam as
his savior. This same question hi
has been asking men down through
the ages and he has been asking II fol
the same reason. Not always In thu
same words, but nevertheless thu
same question. He asked 1t OF Cair
when he said, Where is thy BROTHER
and Cain knew himself a murderer
He asked 1t OF Elijah. when he said
Wat doest thou here. Elijah" ant
Elijah knew he was not trusting God
He asked 1t OF the woman of Samaria
when Jesus said. Go call thy hus
band and the woman knew herself
an adulteress. He has been asking il
OF you many times and In many ways
He asked ii Of you when you heard
the first time the story OF Calvary
and every time you hear the story the
same question is asked. Where art
thouT' Calvary is the great revela
tlon OF mans sinfulness and God Is
grace. There. as nowhere else. ont
sees himself sinner and there one
beholds Gods provision to meet his
need.
He asked 1t OF you when that grea
sorrow came into your life. Did vol
not hear him say, Where art thou?'
Not to condemn you, did he ask II
but to reveal himself unto you as YOU
comforter. He asked II of you wher
your loved one left you alone. In ths
loneliness OF your life he asked 1t
that you might find in him your com
panion. When that calamity came
and all your hopes seemed blasted Il
was his voice that said, Where art
thou? Didst thou not hear him, child
say this to thee, that thou mightesl
cast all thy care upon him who carett
for theea Deaf indeed hast thou beer
to the voice OF thy God, II thou hast
not heard his loving question. Where
art thou? II thou hast heard this cues
tion and in the stiffness of his pres
enee realized where thou art and found
In him thy savior, happy art thou in
deed. But II he has spoken to thee In
his proyidences. as we'll as his word
and thou hast-not-heard, to what
pitch must his voice be raised until
thou doest hear and heed? Even now
In these words he asks thee, Where
art thou" Not to condemn thee, but
to save thee from thyself, thy sorrow
and thy sin.