Our Omnipresent God
Since this is Super Bowl Sunday, I thought it would be a good idea to begin with some football terminology that has made its way into church.
Draw Play What many children do with the bulletin during the service.
Backfield in Motion Making a trip to the bathroom during the service.
Two-minute Warning The point at which you realize the sermon is almost over and you begin to gather up your belongings.
Instant Replay The preacher loses his notes and falls back on last week’s illustrations.
Sudden Death What happens to the attention span of the congregation if the preacher goes into “overtime”.
Let me briefly summarize where we’ve been so far in our series called, “Getting to Know God.”
We began the New Year with a timely message from the book of Ecclesiastes entitled, “Our God of the Second Chance.” No matter what we’ve been doing, or how we’ve been living, God invites us to get to know Him. If we want our lives to have meaning, we need to live out the conclusions of Solomon to stand in awe of God, and to do what He says.
The second message of this series established the truth that “Our Knowable God” wants us to get to know Him better than we do right now. We can do that by just relying on our Imagination, or we can respond to His Invitation by understanding His Revelation. Instead of just coasting in our relationship with God, He calls us to a serious Investigation so that we can get to know Him deeply and personally.
Two weeks ago, we were moved by Isaiah’s experience of coming into the very presence of the thrice “Holy God.” When we see the Lord’s Majesty, we will come face-to-face with our own depravity and long for the Lord’s Mercy. Once we experience His majesty and His mercy, we are then in position to respond to His Mission.
Last week, as we focused on “Our Creator God,” we learned that God is intimately and personally involved in the creation, development and delivery of life in the womb. All of life is sacred and full of dignity because we have been made in the image of God. By the way, because of the response to last week’s service, we’ve made printed copies of the sermon available in the hallway.
The Omni-Attributes
This morning we’re going to learn about God’s omnipresence. There are really three attributes of God that should always be kept together in your mind they all begin with the four-letter prefix “omni”: Omniscience, Omnipotence, and Omnipresence. God is all-knowing, He is all-powerful, and He is everywhere present at the same time.
Tony Evans writes that these three attributes always work in tandem:
God knows what needs to be done that’s omniscience.
He has the power to do it that’s omnipotence.
He’s always wherever He needs to be to do whatever needs to be done that’s omnipresence.
My pastor friend Ray Pritchard says that our topic today God’s omnipresence is one of the most difficult doctrines of the entire Bible. The question, Where is God? is a very important question. The seeker wants to know…and so does the skeptic… and so does the guilty sinner so he can run the other way. And so does the hurting person who feels abandoned by the Almighty “Where is God when I need Him?”
The reason this one is so hard for us is that we have nothing to compare it with. We can only be one place at one time except maybe if you’re Regis Philbin! Man, that guy seems to show up all over the place. But, only God is everywhere at the same time. We can’t even be two places at once a fact that we sometimes forget!
Here’s a simple definition of omnipresence: “The Lord our God is everywhere at once.” He is everywhere present all the time. Paul Little states that “God is not a substance spread out in a thin layer all over the earth all of Him is in Chicago, in Calcutta, in Cairo, and in Caracas, at once and the same time.”
Someone else has said that God’s presence is like the air we breathe. Air is odorless, tasteless and invisible. Although, when we lived in Mexico City, it smelled terrible, it tasted bad and you could actually see it! Most of the time we don’t even think about the air we breathe, yet we depend on it for our very existence. Likewise, God’s presence is all around us, and if it were withdrawn, none of us could survive for even one moment.
The Omni-Passage
As we learned last week, Psalm 139 is a rich, deep, and very personal song that declares God’s creation in the womb. It also definitively establishes God’s omniscience and omnipresence. For our purposes this morning, I want to park in verses 7-12. Let’s read this passage together.
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. If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light will become night around me,’ even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
Let’s start by looking at verse 7. David asks two questions where can I go from your Spirit? And where can I flee from your presence? These rhetorical questions are an emphatic way of declaring that God’s presence is everywhere. While David may have wanted to run from God at different points in his life, He understands that there is no where he could go to get away from Him. Since God is Spirit, He can pierce and penetrate us it is impossible to get away from Him.
In verse 8, he contemplates what would happen if he tried to go up to the heavens. Heaven is a vast place and yet there is no way of escaping God. The phrase “in the depths” refers to Sheol, which in the Bible is the realm of the dead. Throughout the Bible the two places are contrasted heaven is a place of light and life, while Sheol is a place of darkness and death.
God is present in the upper regions of the world and in the depths of the earth. The word “You” is very emphatic and impressive in the original. You have to shout it out to get the meaning You!!! God, You are there!
After checking out the heights and the depths, now David decides to travel from east to west. In verse 9, he met the dawn and traveled with the sun to the far side of the sea. This would be the Mediterranean Sea, which is west of the Holy Land. The Jewish people, for the most part, were not mariners and did not like the sea, but God was there!
The phrase, “wings of the dawn” is an elegant metaphor that refers to the sunbeams that flash out from the sun in the morning. They come out swiftly and disappear just as quickly. David is saying that if he could just pluck these wings of the dawn and travel as far and as swift as light, even there God would be with him. Should David flee to the most distant and obscure island, God would already be there even if he were able to travel at the speed of light David could not outrace God.
Unlike the pagan deities, whose authority was limited to certain geographical areas of operation, the Lord’s authority and presence extends to the heavens, to the depths, to the east and to the west.
Verse 10 provides David some comfort wherever he ends up, God’s hand will guide and protect him. It was impossible to run so far away that he would be out of the reach of God.
The prophet Jonah found this out the hard way. We read in chapter one that he was commissioned by God to go and preach against the great city of Nineveh. He was to tell them about how wicked they were. Jonah didn’t like his assignment, not because he was not in favor of telling off the Ninevites but because he knew that God was going to show them some mercy and grace. These people were the mortal enemies of Israel and Jonah wanted no part of God’s redemptive plan for these barbarians.
So what does he do? He tries to flee from God. Jonah 1:3 says that he was running away from the Lord. In fact, we know that instead of heading to Nineveh, he booked a boat that was sailing in the exact opposite direction. He went west instead of east. Scholars tell us that he was headed for the country that is now Spain, trying to get as far away from Ninevah and as far from God as he could.
He probably breathed a sigh of relief when the ship sailed away from the shore. He thought he was in the clear, that he had outwitted God. But, what Jonah found out was that God was with him on the ship, and would soon be with him in the belly of the whale. Friends, it’s foolish to run from God because there’s no place to hide.
Like David, Jonah investigated the heights and the depths, the east and the west, the land and the sea, and he could not find a place where God was not. Wherever Jonah went, God’s hand was there to guide him; his right hand was holding him fast.
In Psalm 139:11, we see that David started to wonder if there was a difference in day and night. “If I say, ‘Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me.” David played around with the idea that if he just did some stuff in the dark, then he would at last be out of the reach of God’s presence.
I can remember playing hide and seek with our girls when they were younger. Each one of them went through a stage that when it was their turn to hide they would stand in the middle of the room with their eyes closed, and their hands over their face, thinking that if they couldn’t see me, then I couldn’t see them. It was dark to them, but it was light to me.
That’s the way it is with God. We think that we’re hiding things from Him just because it’s dark, or we think we’re doing something in secret. God sees everything, because He is everywhere present at the same time.
Verse 12 helps us understand more about God’s pervasive presence: “…the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.” The curtains of the evening will no more cover us then the wings of the morning will allow us to escape His presence. Everything we do, whether we think we can be seen or not, is done in the full presence of our holy, majestic, and ever-present God.
Implications of Omnipresence
There are several important implications of God’s omnipresence. Let me list just a few.
1. God cannot be contained in a building. Solomon understood this when he said in 1 Kings 8:27: “But will God really dwell on earth? The heavens, even the highest heaven, cannot contain you. How much less this temple I have built!” While I understand what people mean when they say they are going to God’s house when they come to church, it’s not entirely accurate. God does not live in a house made by human hands. It can certainly be argued that the temple was a holy place, but today God dwells among his people, and in his people, wherever they are and wherever they go.
2. God cannot be localized in a city or a nation. This truth should keep us from boasting about America’s supposed moral superiority. God is no less present in one portion of the universe than any other. And He is no more present anywhere than where you are right now. In other words, anyone, anywhere in the universe might say, ‘The Lord is in this place.’ Wherever you are, God is right there, right now.
God is a global God He does not wear red, white and blue. And, He does not cheer for one team to win the Super Bowl unless the Packers are playing!
3. God is always present whether we believe it or not. In the early days of space travel, one of the Russian cosmonauts returned from orbiting the earth and had announced that when he had looked out of his space capsule he had not seen God anywhere. To which someone replied, “If he had taken off his space suit for just one second, he would have seen God pretty quickly!”
4. He is always available to us wherever we go, 24 hours a day. The phrase 24/7 really originates with God He is on task every hour of every day and He’s already where we’re going. I really experienced this during some tough times in Mexico. I can remember one time when Beth and the girls came back to the States for a short Easter break while I was still in language school. I can’t tell you how lonely I felt and how alone I was. God demonstrated His presence to me in a powerful way.
Friends, wherever God is calling, and whatever He is asking you to do, remember this He is already there before you get there. And, He’ll be with you even before you arrive.
Omnipresence Brings Conviction
The truth of God’s omnipresence can be soothing or unsettling. To some of you, it brings comfort. Others of you find it very convicting. The fact that God is everywhere present at the same time can be a disturbing doctrine. As we wrap up this message, I want to address these two effects of God’s omnipresence conviction and comfort. Let’s start with conviction.
Are you trying to run from God? Like Jonah, is God calling you to do something right now that you want nothing to do with? Don’t wait until God sends a storm into your life, or you end up with a whale of a problem. Stop running right now. Wave the white flag. Do what He’s calling you to do.
Hebrews 4:13 puts it all in perspective: “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.”
Are you doing something right now in secret? Maybe you think that no one else will find out. Perhaps you’ve arranged everything so that you can get away with things. Maybe you’re involved in an inappropriate relationship or some kind of illicit behavior. Friend, let me be honest with you. There is no way you can avoid the presence of God. He sees what you’re doing because He’s with you no matter what you think you’re getting away with.
Jeremiah 23:24 says this: “Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him? Do I not fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord.” It’s foolish to try to hide from God, isn’t it?
When I was in my first ministry position after seminary, the youth pastor and I would do something that I’m almost embarrassed to talk about. I don’t know who started it, but I’m sure it was him. Here’s how it would work. If Bob would hear me coming up the stairs, he would hide around the corner and then jump out and scream when I got to the top of the stairs. In order to get him back, I once launched a secret attack on him when he was in the bathroom.
One night I really got him good. We were getting ready for an elder meeting and I decided to go up to his third floor office and wait for him to come in and get his stuff before the meeting. I didn’t turn any lights on and just hid under his desk. I was hoping he would be in a hurry, which he was. I heard him come up the stairs, head down the hallway and open his door. Because he knew right where his stuff was, he didn’t bother to turn on the lights. When he reached for his Daytimer, I grabbed his arm and let out a scream. He jumped and turned as white as a ghost. As he was laying on the floor the last thing I heard him say was, “I’m going to get you for that, Bill.”
Here’s where it really gets interesting. The next Sunday morning, Bob planned his ambush. When he heard footsteps coming up the stairs, he hid behind a door and jumped out screaming. Much to his chagrin, it was the head elder coming up the stairs instead of me! He grabbed his chest and went down to one knee. I came up the stairs to see Bruce giving Bob a sermon on self-control. I was rolling on the floor laughing.
Friends, God is not hiding behind the door hoping to scare you. In fact, His presence is meant to be a comfort to you. Just as David couldn’t flee from Him, neither can we. If you sense His conviction this morning, respond to Him. Do you feel like a fugitive, trying to flee from the ever-present God? The reason He convicts is so that He can get our attention. He loves us too much to let us keep hiding or running from Him.
Omnipresence Brings Comfort
God’s presence also brings comfort. Isaiah 41:10 is Beth’s favorite verse: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Because God is always with us, we do not have to be dismayed. This practical doctrine brings us comfort in at least three ways.
God is always near to His people. If you don’t have the second half of Hebrews 13:5 memorized, you really need to do it. Here it is, “…Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”
God is especially close when we go through tough times. Some of you have experienced this recently from Psalm 34:18: “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
God comes even closer when we get close to Him. James 4:8 gives us a challenge: “Come near to God and He will come near to you…”
Practicing the Presence of God
Brother Lawrence wrote a fascinating book many years ago called, “Practicing the Presence of God.” For 15 years, his responsibility was to wash the greasy pots and pans in the monastery a job he disliked. Practicing the presence of God transformed what he considered a chore into an exciting privilege. This is what he writes:
“My day-to-day life consists of giving God my simple, loving attention. If I’m distracted, He calls me back in tones that are supernaturally beautiful…the most holy and necessary practice in our spiritual life is the presence of God. That means finding constant pleasure in His divine company, speaking humbly and lovingly with Him in all seasons, at every moment, without limiting the conversation in any way.”
I want to close this morning with a story about a young man and his father. This teenager lived alone with his dad, and the two of them had a very special relationship. Even though the son was always on the bench during football games, his father was always in the stands cheering. He never missed a game.
All through high school he never missed a practice or a game, but remained a bench warmer all four years. His faithful father was always in the stands with words of encouragement for him. When the young man went to college, he decided to try out for the football team as a “walk-on”. Everyone was sure he would never make the cut, but he did.
This persistent young athlete never missed practice during his four years at college, but he never got into a game. It was the end of his senior football season, and as he trotted onto the practice field shortly before the big play-off game, the coach met him with a telegram. The young man read the telegram and became deathly silent. Swallowing hard, he mumbled to the coach, “My father died this morning. Is it all right if I miss practice today?” The coach put his arm gently around his shoulder and said, “Take the rest of the week off, son. And don’t even plan to come to the game on Saturday.”
Saturday arrived, and the game was not going well. In the third quarter, when the team was ten points behind, a silent young man quietly slipped into the empty locker room and put on his football gear. As he ran onto the sidelines, the coach and his players were astounded to see their faithful teammate back so soon. “Coach, please let me play. I’ve just got to play today,” said the young man. The coach pretended not to hear him. There was no way he wanted his worst player in this close playoff game.
But the young man persisted, and finally feeling sorry for the kid, the coach gave in. “All right,” he said. “You can go in.” Before long, the coach, the players and everyone in the stands could not believe their eyes. This little unknown, who had never played before was doing everything right. The opposing team could not stop him. The score was soon tied. In the closing seconds of the game, the kid intercepted a pass and ran all the way back for the winning touchdown. The fans broke loose. His teammates hoisted him onto their shoulders. Such cheering you’ve never heard!
Finally, after the stands had emptied and the team had showered and left the locker room, the coach noticed that the young man was sitting quietly in the corner all alone. The coach came to him and said, “Kid, I can’t believe it. You were fantastic! Tell me what got into you? How did you do it?”
He looked at the coach, with tears in his eyes, and said. “Well, you knew my dad died, but did you know that my dad was blind?” The young man swallowed hard and forced a smile, “Dad came to all my games, but today was the first time he could see me play, and I wanted to show him I could do it!”
Friend, God is at all your games as well and He’s not blind. In fact, He sees everything and knows everything we’re going to talk more about that next week. He’s cheering for you today. He’s your biggest fan. Allow His presence to motivate you to be sold-out in your service and worship of Him.
Do you want to be where God is today? Are you ready to dwell daily in His presence? Let’s stand for closing prayer.
