God's First Big Ask

Four weeks into 2021, billions of we humans around the world are already doing our best to re-boot admirable life goals and be better stewards of the life God gives us—especially since so many of us have suffered real loss in these past months. We seek restoration and relief from the chaos caused by pandemic, isolation, and social schisms. Rightfully, we ask the Lord to search us, to know our hearts, and correct any offensive ways He sees in us (Psalm 139:23-24), so that our walks with God and others won’t be hindered further by self-worry and short-sighted mistakes.

Early in their freshly made marriage, Adam and Eve made a devastating error. They buckled under Satan’s cajoling invitation to taste of the only fruit God had forbidden in their unbelievably perfect all-inclusive Garden of Eden paradise. 

Everything there had been free and guaranteed—provided they obey that single, simple condition. They enjoyed intimate friendship with God, pure delight in each other, and all they could ever want to eat or behold. They didn’t have to imagine the garden’s exquisite day-and-night time beauty or the unsullied flora and fauna that Adam had already been privileged to name. God’s sky-vault lit their way, through each day and night. 

The wonder of it all vanquished the very moment they forfeited God’s lordship by eating the forbidden fruit. 

Now, encumbered by unfamiliar shame and fear, they hid from God. But God searched them out with the first question He asked of any human, ever: 

“Where are you?” 

Firsts are meant to stand out, aren’t they? God meant for this question to stand out, too. 

Adam and Eve had stepped out of God’s perfect plan for them, and they suffered stiff consequences for their sin. Nevertheless, in the very moment they realized their trouble, God was already working to save them from it. He warned Satan of the “crushing” that was to come, foreshadowing His salvific answer to the shameful sin problem Adam and Eve had so carelessly incited. 

Already, in the Garden of Eden, God was seeking the lost, to save us all (Genesis 3:15).

In truth, the entirety of God’s mission to humankind is wrapped around this probe: “Where are you?” God’s first question ever, to the first human ever, extended to all generations through the salvific work of Christ himself, who still seeks and saves lost people because of His great love for everyone in the world (John 3:16). 

We, at Say Hello, have pondered this specific question for some days now, and we are grateful. Grateful to be found; grateful to be part of God’s desire that none remain lost, but that everyone enjoy Him forever. Thank you for joining us in these sentiments as together we strive to ensure that every Muslim relish this truth about God’s mission to us all.