God’s Omnipresence: A Reassuring Reality to Rejoice In – TGC Africa – The Gospel Coalition Africa

When we speak about the attributes of God, there are some things that the everyday believer can relate to, and indeed are intimately familiar to us. When we think of God being loving, merciful, or even jealous, his character is fairly easy to grasp. There are, however, attributes that we struggle to fathom. When we speak about Gods transcendence, omniscience, or his aseity, it can take some time to get our heads around them. These concepts are so far removed from us that even the words for them are strange. Its one such attribute that well consider in this article: Gods omnipresence.

God is completely unrestricted by any spatial limitations. He is present in all places simultaneously. We call this attribute his omnipresence. The psalmist recognises this when he asks where he can run from the presence of God (Psalm 139:7-12). No matter how high or deep or far he goes, Gods presence will still be there. Because God created space and matter, he isnt constrained by either. He is in every place, consistently.

However, omnipresence doesnt mean that God is in or a part of everything. Thats pantheism. Some people like to imagine that there is a part of the Creator in every part of creation. Others believe hes some kind of mystical force or energy, moving within all living creatures. This is not the God we meet in the Bible. I wont find a little piece of God in my dog anymore than Ill find him in a fire I make.

I wont find a little piece of God in my dog anymore than Ill find him in a fire.

In scripture we find people rebuked when they worship created things, even created things that they identify with the Lord. God is present throughout all of creation, but not because he is in, or part of creation (Deuteronomy 4:15-20). Even humans made in the image of God only resemble him. We are no more divine than anything else in creation.

Omnipresence also doesnt mean that Gods being is somehow divided, as if little parts of him are spread throughout the universe. God is fully aware of everything that happens. And he is fully able to act with all of his power, because he is fully present in all places (Jeremiah 23:24).

Its true that we dont experience his presence in the same way that the angels in heaven currently do. Its also true that our experience of him is unlike the experience of Israel at Mount Sinai (Exodus 19:11; 34:5), or the high priest in the Holy of Holies (Exodus 28:35; 1 Kings 8:11). Furthermore, our present experience of God pales in comparison with what we look forward to in the New Earth (Revelation 21:22-27). Just as it is true that the presence of the Lord through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit is unique to believers (1 Corinthians 6:19).

God is always fully able to act with all of his power, because he is fully present in all places.

These differing experiences, however, dont take away from the fact of Gods omnipresence. No, its just our awareness of it that differs. In other words, while God is present in all places, he can choose to reveal and manifest that presence in particular ways according to his purposes.

Wherever we are, the God who cannot be contained is fully present there with us.

In the past, hes chosen to appoint a particular place where people could come to meet with him. Today instead of building a temple for us to gather in, God says that we, his people, are the temple (1 Corinthians 6:19). This is because the Holy Spirit is given to all believers. Since he lives within us, we can expect to experience his presence wherever we are. This is especially true when we gather together in his name (Matthew 18:20).

While there is certainly some mystery, we can be confident in this fact: wherever we find ourselves, the God who cannot be contained by the heavens or the earth is fully present there with us.

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God's Omnipresence: A Reassuring Reality to Rejoice In - TGC Africa - The Gospel Coalition Africa