From the time immemorial the voice of God has challenged man to rise up and follow his leading and become all God wants him to be. At times he spoke directly to him, and at other times he spoke through a prophet, preacher or other means. He speaks to us today through the Bible that was written by men under direct inspiration of the Holy Spirit.
Yes, from the time God's voice was heard in Eden, calling, "Adam, where art thou?" It was not that God did not know where Adam was, nor what he had done. He was simply calling him from his hiding place to come out and confess his sins and face the issue of his relationship with his creator.
One of the most difficult problems of today is to get people to face up to the issue of their proper relationship with God, who wants to be their heavenly Father as well as their God. Yet, it is the most important issue anyone faces.
Adam did not succeed in hiding from God; neither can we. We need not try to hide from him for we know that he is willing and anxious to forgive us through our faith in and obedience to his son, Jesus Christ, who suffered the penalty of our sins on Calvary's cross.
Many centuries later God's voice was heard amidst lightning and thunder on Mt. Sinai as he gave his people the Ten Commandments, which has been the basis for morals ever since.
Six or seven hundred years later God's people were steeped in sin, self-righteousness and cold religious form, and again they heard the voice of challenge to Amos, God's prophet, asking, "Amos, what seest thou?" Amos replied, "A plumb line." Then said the Lord, "Behold I will set a plumb line in the midst of my people; I will not pass by them anymore." Amos 7:8. A plumb line is used to raise perpendiculars-to see that they are straight up and down. So, God is saying, "I will measure your righteousness by a plumb line" -I will not tolerate your kind of religion anymore. 7:8.
Ezekiel challenged his people-"Turn ye, turn ye from your wicked ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel?" 33:11. If they repented of their sins, they would be forgiven, but, if not, they would face God's judgement.
God sent many other prophets such as Isaiah and Jeremiah. Then in the fullness of time he sent Jesus, his only begotten Son, with the final word to man. When Jesus spoke his voice had an unmistakable tone of authority. He said, "Except your righteousness exceeds that of the Pharisees, you shall in no wise enter into the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:20.
Jesus' last words were: "Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature (person): he that believeth and is baptized shall be saved: but he that believeth not shall be damned (condemned)." Mark 16:15, 16.
This message is still being proclaimed loud and clear, challenging everyone who hears it to turn from sin to Jesus Christ and commit their heart and life to him to find life at its best, here and now, and life eternal hereafter. It is life's greatest challenge. I accepted him many years ago and would not know how to live without him.