Return to the Question

Someone I was praying with last year gave me a powerful tip to help with the battle in our minds. She suggested that, whenever a troublesome thought presents itself, to ask this question: “Who told you this”? For example, a thought might come into your head which says that you are unloved, outcast, good-for-nothing. We can be battling for a long time to overcome this evil thought. Or we could ask ourselves: “Who told me this? Was it God? Or did it originate elsewhere?”

If something is from God, then we had better listen to it. But if it’s from the enemy, then we should immediately reject it. And if it comes from a human being (either yourself or someone else) then we can cautiously consider it, comparing it to the unchanging truth of the Scriptures. We can test it with the aid of the Holy Spirit. This simple strategy, asking ourselves the question “Who told you this”? is a powerful tool to prevent unnecessary battles in our minds.

God asked Adam something similar right after his sin. “Who told you that you were naked”? This question faced Adam up to his own transgression. Immediately before God had asked Adam “Where are you”? God did not ask that because He couldn’t find Adam. God’s trio of questions in today’s verses were intended to confront Adam with his sinful behaviour, and to lead him back into a heart-to-heart conversation with his Maker.

It could be that God has a question for you too. I have been learning that biblical repentance is linked with the idea of returning to God. And thinking of the questions He is asking us, perhaps, like Adam, we might be hiding from God. We find it uncomfortable and prefer to avoid His line of thought. But in repentance we can turn to Him, and trust that God’s questions are intended to bring us back to Him. It is such a relief for us to be honest and admit it: “Yes, Lord, I was wrong, and I am sorry!”

We cannot have restored relationship with God by hiding from the reality of our sin, or by avoiding any questions He might ask us. God never stopped loving Adam and Eve. He could have obliterated them on the spot, and started all over again with mankind, but He did not. And neither does He want to destroy you. What God really wants is for you to turn back to Him with all of your heart. So, let’s allow God to ask His questions and lead us back to Him.