GOD’S FIRST WORDS TO THE FIRST SINNER
(Adapted from a sermon from the Rev. C.H.Spurgeon)
“The Lord God called to Adam and said unto him, Where are you?”
Genesis 3:9.
( CONTD )
But now I must turn, lest time should fail us, to a fourth way in which no doubt this verse was intended. It is an
arousing voice, a convincing voice, a bemoaning voice—but, in the fourth place—it is a SEEKING VOICE. “Adam,
where are you?” I am come to find you wherever you may be. I will look for you till the eyes of My pity see you. I will
follow you till the hands of My mercy reach you, and I will still hold you till I bring you back to Myself, and reconcile
you to My heart.
Again, if you have been able to follow me through the three parts of the discourse, I can speak confidently to you. If
you have been awakened, if you have been convinced, if you have some longings toward God, then the Lord has come
forth to seek you, and to seek you this morning! What a thought it is, that when God comes forth to seek His chosen, He
knows where they are, and He never misses them; and though they may have wandered ever so far, yet it is not too far for
Him! If they had gone to the gates of Hell, and the gates were half opened to receive them, the Lord would get them even
there. If they had so sinned that they had given themselves up, and every Christian living had given them up, too—if Satan
had counted upon them, and had made ready to receive them, yet when God comes forth to seek them, He will find
them, and He will have them after all! You who are lost, perishing sinners, hear the voice of God, for it speaks to you,
“Where are you?” for I have come to seek you. “Lord I am in such a place that I cannot do anything for myself.” “Then I
have come to seek you, and do all for you.” “Lord, I am in such a place that the Law threatens me, and Justice frowns
upon me.” “I have come to answer the threats of the Law, and to bear all the wrath of Justice!” “But, Lord, I am in such
a place that I cannot repent as I would.” “I have come to seek you, and I am exalted on high to give repentance and remission
of sins.”
“But, Lord, I cannot believe in You; I cannot believe as I would.” “A bruised reed I will not break, and a smoking
flax will I not quench, I have come to give you faith.” “But, Lord, I am in such a state that my prayers can never be acceptable.”
“I have come to pray for you, and then to grant you your desires.” “But, Lord, You do not know what a
wretch I am.” “Yes, I know you. Though I asked you the question, ‘Where are you?’ it was that you might know where
you are, for I knew well enough!” “But, Lord, I have been the chief of sinners—none can have so aggravated their guilt
as I have.” “But wherever you may be, I have come to save you.” “But I am an outcast from society.” “But I have come to
gather together the outcasts of Israel.” “Oh, but I have sinned beyond all hope.” “Yes, but I have come to give hope to
hopeless sinners.” “Yes, but then I deserve to be lost.” “Yes, but I have come to magnify the Law and make it honorable,
and so to give you your deserts in the Person of Christ, and then to give you My mercy because of His merits.” There is
not a sinner here conscious of his lost estate who can be in a position out of which he cannot be brought! I will conceive
the worst of all the worst, the vilest of all the vile—we will bring up those who have taken high degrees in the devil’s
synagogue, and become masters of iniquity—but still if with tearful eyes they look alone to the wounds of Him who shed
His blood for sinners, He is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him!
Oh, I cannot preach this morning as I would, nor can you perhaps hear as you would wish, but may the Lord speak
where I cannot, and may He say unto some despairing sinner here, “Soul, your hour is come. I will pluck you out of the
horrible pit, and out of the miry clay, at this day and at this very hour! I will set your feet upon a Rock. I will put a new
song into your mouth, and I will establish your goings.” Blessed, blessed, be the name of the Most High if such may be
the case!
(to be contd )
God Bless.
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