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December 22 Daily Devotional

Christ, Where Art Thou?

Frans Bakker

And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou? —Genesis 3:9

Bible Reading

Genesis 3:6–10

Devotional

In His justice and grace God asks, “Where art thou?” This question was a call to Adam, but it was also a call for Christ, for the just punishment was not executed on Adam. To satisfy God’s justice this punishment had to be executed on Christ, the second Adam. From the cradle to the grave, God’s justice would ask, “Christ, where art Thou?” If He would not be present for one moment to answer that justice, He could not be the second Adam. Christ is the substitute for Adam, for a fallen sinner. We see His substitutionary work come to the forefront when those who would deliver Him to the judge sought him in the Garden of Gethsemane. Adam hid himself when the Judge looked for him, but Christ said, “Whom seekest thou?” He did not hide Himself when they asked for Him. As the Substitute He spoke, “If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way” (John 18:8).

When the soldiers sought Christ, He did not conceal Himself behind the bushes. He did not cover Himself with fig leaves, nor did He excuse Himself by blaming someone else, as Adam did. No! He allowed others to lead Him into the hall of Caiaphas. He allowed Pilate to judge Him and to crucify Him. He did this so that He would have an answer to the question, “Where art thou?”

Has this question ever come to you? Have you heard the voice of the Judge? Have you given any thought to where you are? Outside of the communion of God, you are deeply fallen in Adam. All you have are fig leaves and all you can do is make excuses. The Judge, however, is not satisfied with fig leaves, and your excuses must fall out of your hands before Him, so that to the question “Where art thou?” there will be no other answer than “I am here in my deep fall.”

God seeks man. He seeks you; He asks you where you are. He seeks you as Judge, but also as the Compassionate One. The man, who is found without Christ, will find in his Judge a fullness of compassion. But the one who continues outside of God’s communion, will only meet the Judge on the other side of the grave.

“Where art thou?” When this question penetrates to the bottom of your sinful life, then Advent becomes a reality for you. You look for Jesus, for the One who is always faithful, who never fell. As the fig leaves fall from your life and as it gets harder to hide yourself from God’s all-seeing eye, the more precious the Surety becomes. You start to need Him who said, “If therefore ye seek me, let these go their way.” When the light of the Surety starts to shine in the darkness of your deep fall, then you realize that justice and compassion can still go together. Finally, you have nothing left but to glory in God’s sovereign good pleasure, whereby God, in compassion, firmly holds on to His people, even while they willfully let go of Him.

 

From The Everlasting Word by Frans Bakker, compiled and translated by Gerald R. Procee. Reformation Heritage Books and Free Reformed Publications, 2007. Used by permission. For further information, click here.

 

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