Weekly Newsletter

Pastor David’s Weekly Devotional
Ever wish you could be in more than one place at a time?  God has never had this problem, for He is everywhere.  Theologians refer to this doctrine as God’s omnipresence.  To say that God is omnipresent is to say that His full being is present everywhere at all times.  That is, God is always present everywhere at once.

The Psalmist declares this glorious truth in Psalm 139: “Where shall I go from your Spirit?  Or where shall I flee from your presence?  If I ascend to heaven, you are there!  If I make my bed in Sheol, you are there!  If I take the wings of the morning and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there your hand shall lead me, and your right hand shall hold me.  If I say, ‘Surely the darkness shall cover me, and the light about me be night,’ even the darkness is not dark to you; the night is bright as the day, for darkness is as light with you” (vs.7-12).

God is Spirit (Jn.4:24), and not a physical being, therefore He is not bound by space or time.  Humans are physical (finite) beings and therefore are incapable of being in more than one place at a time.  God infinitely transcends both space and time.  This means that God is fully and simultaneously present everywhere!  God’s omnipresence enables Him to see all time equally and instantly – enabling Him to declare “the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done” (Is.46:10).  Thus, God (who is infinitely eternal) knows all events past, present and future with equal and perfect clarity.

Since God is Spirit, He does not occupy space in a physical sense.  But there is another aspect to God’s omnipresence that we must not overlook.  Not only is God simultaneously present everywhere, but He is also fully present everywhere.  In other words, God is never “partly” or even “mostly” present anywhere – God is fully present wherever He is, and there is no place where God is not, which means that God is always fully and simultaneously present everywhere.

This ought to be a great comfort to every Christian, and a great terror for every non-Christian.  Non-Christians must come to grips with the fact that they are never removed from the presence of God.  Avoiding church buildings, the Bible or Christians does not hide anyone from God.  Unbelievers will often say, “If I came to your church, the roof would cave in.”  But the truth is, the reason the roof does not collapse when sinners enter a church is the same reason why the McCullough Memorial Bridge does not collapse when sinners walk or drive across it.  Because God is patient (2Pet.3:9), not because God is not omnipresent.  No one can escape the omnipresence of God – “no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Heb.4:13).

In fact, neither can the Christian.  But the Christian has been reconciled to God by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.  Consequently, they are able to enjoy an intimate fellowship with God as their Redeemer and Heavenly Father.  The thought of God’s omnipresence is not a terror to the true child of God, but an incredible source of encouragement and peace.  Like the Psalmists, by God’s amazing grace, Christians can joyfully declare: “You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore” (Ps.16:11); “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me” (Ps.23:4); and “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps.27:1).

Together in and for Christ,
Pastor David

Scripture Readings for the Week (Monday – Sunday ~ Week #23):
Exodus 37-40; 1 Kings 5-9; Psalm 66-68; Proverbs 2-3; Lamentations; Luke 9-10; Galatians 4-6

Recommended Reading:
“God’s Greater Glory: The exalted God of Scripture and the Christian faith” by Bruce A. Ware