About 200 years ago, when the Alter Rebbe began to spread Hasidism throughout Russia, the Russian government did not understand this new movement and thought that he wanted to lead a revolution against their king, the Tsar, and so they arrested him.
In prison, the Alter Rebbe was questioned about his activities for almost eight weeks. Many of the Russian officers were impressed by his wisdom and visited him to ask various questions. One of these officers was the Minister of Culture. He was a very educated man and had also studied Torah. There was one question that was troubling him.
He asked the Alter Rebbe: “When God came to punish the First Man (Adam) after he had eaten from the tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, He asked him, 'Where are you?': Why did He have to ask him where he was? Doesn't God know everything?'
At first, the Alter Rebbe told the minister Rashi's explanation, that God did not want to frighten Adam, so instead of directly asking him, "Why did you sin?", He asked him something that would not frighten him, as if to start a conversation.
“I’ve already studied that explanation,” the minister told him. “I want to know what you have to say.”.
The Alter Rebbe looked the minister in the eye and said, “The Torah is eternal. The same question God asked Adam, He asks every person, at every moment of their life. At every moment, God is asking us: 'Where are you? Are you fulfilling your life’s purpose?'”
“For example,” the Alter Rebbe continued, “if you are so many years old (and the Alter Rebbe mentioned the minister’s exact age), God is asking you, 'Where are you in your mission in life? Are you doing what God expects you to accomplish throughout your life?'”
The minister was very impressed. He patted the Alter Rebbe on the back and said, “Bravo!” Later, he was very helpful in securing the Alter Rebbe’s release from prison.
When we read about God's question to Adam, we must realize that He is asking us the same question. And this happens not only when we are studying Torah, but also afterward. Even when we are at home eating, sleeping, and playing with our friends, God is asking us, "Where are you? Are you doing what God wants of you?"“
Doesn't it make you feel important to know that Hashem is always asking us this question? We should be glad that everything we do is important to Hashem and that He cares about us all the time.
Hashem wants each person to do what they can to make this world a house for Him. Asking ourselves the question “Where are we?” more frequently helps us complete this mission much faster. And this will lead to the days of Messiah, and everyone will see that this is the house of Hashem.
Adapted from Please tell me what the Rebbe says