"Where Am I?"

Have you ever awakened from a sleep that was so deep, so sound, that when your eyes opened, the first thought that came into your head was "Where am I?".  It's happened to me a few times.  (I now actually cherish a sleep period that is like that!). In the normal course of events we never think about "Where am I?"  We usually know where we are.

But do we?  You might be an individual who has reflected on this, to the point that you have explored some of the disciplines that seek to answer that question, the question of "Where am I?"  Geography is certainly helpful, as is history.  Both disciplines help us to understand where we are in time and space.  The disciplines of geology, anthropology, archeology, astronomy and genetics also seek to shed some light on the subject.  But those areas of learning become complex rather quickly so we tend to shy away from digging into them very deeply, at least for our own purposes of answering the question, "Where am I?"

So is there a simple method of answering the question?  (I'm so glad you asked!).

Actually there is.  The Bible does a rather credible job of telling us both 'who we are" and "where we are".  Let's look at the topic "where we are."  

On a blank piece of paper in front of you, draw a horizontal line across the page.

Now somewhere on the left-hand side, draw a short vertical line across the horizontal line.  Now on the right hand side, draw another short vertical line that crosses the horizontal line.  Above the short vertical line on the left-hand side of the page, write, "Christ's first coming."  Above the short vertical line on the right-hand side of the page, write "Christ's second coming". Now somewhere above the middle section of the horizontal line, write "The Church Age".  Now place a dot somewhere in the mid-section of "The Church Age".   That dot is you.  That's where you are, somewhere between the first coming of Christ and His second coming, in the time that the Bible characterizes as "The Church Age".

Why do we call it "The Church Age?"  In a discourse with Peter, Christ announced the initiation of the beginning of His church. "And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church and the gates of Hades will not overcome it."  Math 16:18. That was the beginning of "the Church Age."  It began roughly two thousand years ago.  Initiated by Christ himself, it has seen a tumultuous history, to say the least.  Some of that history is very dark.  But despite that, Christ's church still flourishes.  It is still on-going and we are part of it.

When will it end?  It will end with Christ's second coming.  When will that happen?

It's unknown.  Even Christ Himself says that he does not know when that will happen.  "But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father." Mark 13: 32.  It will happen, we just don't know when.  Eschatology is the discipline that deals with "the End Times, 

the Second Coming of Christ" and there are numerous Biblical passages that explore this.  But the time of Christ's Second Coming remains unknown.

Despite the fact that we don't know the time of the vertical line on the right-hand side of our time line, we still do know "where we are."  We are in "the Church Age".

It was initiated, will exist for a time, and will come to an end.  It's where we are.

Look at this explanation from the foot-notes of the NIV Bible (Copyright 2011, Biblica, Inc; published by Zondervan,2025).  "The 'in-between time" flanked by Christ's first and second comings is a time of tears, suffering, persecution and death. But God's promise in Christ, is ultimate salvation, healing, joy and eternal life for God's people'".

You might be thinking, "Ok, that's good.  I know 'where I am.'  Now how about the question 'Who I am?'".

We'll look at that next time.