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Who Who…Who Who?

It was a beautiful spring morning, and, in fact, I clearly remember it because it was the first day of spring which, of course, means that warm weather would soon be upon us. Oh, I know there will be some chilly nights and cool days, but warmth will arrive, and I am looking forward to that. This particular morning my pre-dawn walk took me into the woods near our house. In the quiet of the early day, only one creature was heard. It was an owl out in the trees. On that morning he or she was in full voice and would say repetitively in a distinct owl cadence, “Who, who…who, who?” A minute or two would pass, and right on schedule the owl said again, “Who, who…who, who?” I just kept walking, but I never got out of range of hearing the owl’s call continue to echo through the quiet woods the one word question, “Who?”

While I occasionally hear owls, rarely do they just continue on and on with their calls. I do not know who the owl was talking to, nor do I understand owl linguistics enough to know what that actually means. However, that morning it was a kind of God-provided and meditative moment. I could not help but think who. From a biblical standpoint, who is found everywhere in Scripture, and it certainly has meaning.

I thought about the first who actually recorded in the Bible in Genesis 3:11 when God says, “Who told you that you were naked?” Adam and Eve had disobeyed God, and a blanket of fear had come upon them. They ran and hid from the One they had communed with and enjoyed. God asked, “Where art thou Adam?” It was a simple question as God sought for them. It was a question that was asked not because God did not know where they were, but it was probably asked so that Adam and Eve would know where they were. Their answer was that they were naked and so they went and hid. Of course, what had taken place was that sin, as it always does, had stripped them of their innocence and of their sweet relationship with God. It had ruined paradise, darkened their hearts, and caused them to run into their own loneliness. They, like most of us, quickly turned to blame somebody or something other than themselves. Most of us can quickly find a dozen things to blame for the condition we are in rather than face the reality that we are the ones who made the decisions that ultimately brought us to our situation.

The second who that I thought about involved the ministry of John the Baptist as he was introducing the person who was going to change lives and change us so much that flowing from us would be the very radiance of the Lord Himself and praise worthy of our God. John was preaching about repentance and turning from, turning to, and allowing God to do something in your life so that people can see that there is a difference in your life. As the people came to him wanting to be baptized, John told them to show that they had truly repented and God had come to work in them. He said something rather incredible, “Bring forth therefore fruits worthy of repentance, and begin not to say within yourselves, we have Abraham our father: for I say unto you, that God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham” (Luke 3:8).

Then in Luke 19:40, Jesus points out that if the people of that day held their peace, did not express their praise to God, and the evidence of God at work in them was closed up and not expressed that the stones would immediately cry out. At times, I hear folks criticizing others for praising God more than they themselves praise God. Maybe that is what John had thought or that Jesus saw. Now I am not talking about being a gifted singer or an eloquent speaker so much as I am saying what the Scripture is presenting that our lives in faith, in joy, and in openness declare our allegiance to Him and show forth praise for who He is and what He has done in us. The question comes from an owl, “Who?”

The third who is one so familiar to all of us, and I refer to it as the who of response. It is from Isaiah 6 when the Lord asked, “Whom shall I send and who will go for us? Then said I, ‘Here am I, send me.’” It is not just a once and forever question and answer. It is a daily walk question and answer. Who will say yes to Me, obey My voice, go where I want him or her to go, and do what they are supposed to do today? Who?

The last who that I thought of in Scripture was the who of reception recorded in the last verses in the last chapter of the Bible. It says, “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Rev. 22:17). I can tell you with confidence and from the heart of God that who is you and thank God that who is me. That is anyone wanting to experience life abundant and life eternal. That person can turn to Jesus, and according to His wonderful Word, He will never cast out anyone. He will save you. He will give you joy, peace, freedom and a new life. Who? It can be you this very day. Somewhere sitting out there on a limb is a wise old owl, and he may not have known that he was speaking a language that would speak to me and prayerfully to you as he just kept repeating what I sense the Lord may be repeating to many of us, “Who, who…who, who?” You – whoever you are!

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