“The LORD is exalted over all the nations, his glory above the heavens. Who is like the LORD our God, the One who sits enthroned on high, who stoops down to look on the heavens and the earth? He raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap; he seats them with princes, with the princes of his people.” (Psalm 113:4-8)

The mind-stretching understanding of God is evident in the attribute we call omnipresent. Omnipresent is to be present everywhere all the time. God is revealed as one who is both above the nations and the heavens. He is also revealed as one who sees the needs of the poorest among us, along with everything else, all at the same time.

Scripture says, “The eyes of the LORD are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good.” (Proverbs 15:3) God sees everything from everywhere. He looks upon those who are wicked and those who are good. He knows the hearts and actions of people throughout the world.

Therefore, God would remind those who were teaching falsehood to the people, “Am I only a God nearby,” declares the LORD, “and not a God far away?  Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the LORD. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?”  (Jeremiah 23:23-24) God is shown as one who is near, as well as one who says truth to those who are in distant places. While God fills the heavens and the earth, He will still sees those who are hiding. God is always at these different places. The writer of Hebrews would add, “Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13) Even King David would add, “Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. (139:7-10) Wherever we go, God is present.

The reality that God is everywhere lets us know that He is watching over the universe and watching over us. It tells us that God knows the movements of the earth and the people on it. It lets us know that God sees everything everywhere, even the interaction of all the people. And yet during the midst of all of this, He still abides with all who believe in Him. “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me.” (John 15:4 ESV) In giving the church the Great Commission, Jesus would declare to us, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) This understanding is important because of the promise Jesus made to the Disciples and to us concerning the presence of God in our individual lives. “And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. . .. In that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you.” (John 14:16-18,20) God’s abiding presence is with everyone who is His church, all the time and everywhere.

While we allow God to stretch our minds concerning His omnipresence, we must avoid two pitfalls. While God is everywhere, He is not His creation. This is the idea of the pantheist, who believes that God is everything. Or that He created the universe and then left it and us alone. This is the idea of the deist. God is revealed in Scripture as actively in control of everything in His creation and is intimately involved with everyone right here. He is here with a desire that we walk with Him and He with us. “Blessed are those who have learned to acclaim you, who walk in the light of your presence, LORD.” (Psalm 89:15) This is why Jesus came to us, that we may now have a new personal relationship with our Creator and our Redeemer, who can be with all of us all the time.

In the Love of Jesus,

Michael Block