It didn’t take many months for me to backslide during freshman year in the university. Most of my post-exam time following the 12th matriculation (ESLCE) was spent in godly manner, with intense prayer and worship. Here I was in freshman giving in to my desire after a minimal peer influence and started backsliding. But I never stopped going to fellowship program. Every other week we had a joint fellowship program with the students from college of agriculture in the big Church hall in a central place to both campuses (Heywot Berhan Church). It was in one of these programs that Jesus came to me in unexpected manner. The preacher of the day insisted for one tall and skinny student to stand up as he has a message from God. I said to myself, “there are so many tall, and skinny students in the hall”. He continued to indicate in which part of the hall that student is sitting…
Many things were rushing in my mind as the servant of God insisted for the student to stand up. He was directing the area I was sitting, and the Spirit of the Lord was speaking to my heart as well, so I knew it was me. Frankly what kept me from standing was my sinful status at the time. I told myself, “God knew I am having an affair and is angry at me! I am going to be humiliated in front of everyone… worst of all, he is going to reject me because I knew Him in person. I experienced the Holy Spirit at work and I left him for my desire. He is going to tell me that I am going to die… I am hopeless! I will not stand His presence, I will die of my sin sooner or later…”
When I stood up the minister said, “The Lord says to you, ‘my son I missed you in your regular place. You called my name, you cried out loud before me on big issues that we both know. I heard you and came from heaven with my gifts and answers to your prayer. My son, when I came to give you, I couldn’t find you. Where are you my son? Please be in your place, take your position so that I bless you. I love you my son says the Lord”
I never felt as repentant as that day! I was expecting the crushing mighty and punishing power of God to come upon me because of my sin… what I got was even more powerful and crushing love! I was washed with my tears! I remembered the issues I prayed and fasted for weeks while in high school. Now I learn that when the answer came to my address, it was undeliverable message because I changed my address. I didn’t wait on my right address to open what is released to me form God. The right address is to be in His presence, in prayer and supplication.
After over 400 years of silence, God sent His only son to earth. As an infant, this child was brought to the house of God… the Messiah that the whole Israel was waiting for. By the time the baby was brought to the temple, no priest recognized him as Messiah........ But someone did!
The first man to recognize was Simon, (Luke 2:27 )“Now there was a man in Jerusalem called Simeon, who was righteous and devout. He was waiting for the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was on him… When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, 28 Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: 29 “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you may now dismiss your servant in peace. 30 For my eyes have seen your salvation."
The second person who saw was Hanna (Luke 2:36-37) “There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Penuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was very old… She never left the temple but worshiped night and day, fasting and praying. 38 Coming up to them at that very moment, she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.”
If Jesus came today with answers and blessings, will he find you? Will he find me?
Genesis 3:8
"Then the man (Adam) and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as he was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden. 9 But the Lord God called to the man, “Where are you?”
Where are you brother? where are you?
Where are you sister?
Where am I?
