Posted on 02/10/2017 1:49:28 PM PST by metmom
But will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee (1 Kings 8:27).
God is in all places; He is not confined by space.
No matter how big the universe is, God is bigger. His being fills up all of infinity. He is omnipresenteverywhere present. God says, Do I not fill the heavens and the earth? (Jer. 23:24). Solomon said at the dedication of the temple, Will God indeed dwell on the earth? Behold, heaven and the highest heaven cannot contain Thee, how much less this house which I have built! (1 Kings 8:27). There are no limits of time or space to His presence.
Some may object to the doctrine of omnipresence, saying, Wouldnt the sin in the world defile an omnipresent God? No. God is in the hearts of sinners convicting them of sin. He is also in Hell where He is able to destroy both soul and body (Matt. 10:28). Though Gods essence is everywhere, He never mingles with impurity. In a similar way, Jesus lived among sinners and was tempted in all things as we are, yet [He was] without sin (Heb. 4:15).
Isaiah exhorts people to call upon [God] while He is near (55:6); yet Proverbs 15:29 says, The Lord is far from the wicked. How can He be near some people and far from others when He is everywhere all the time? To answer this, we must distinguish between Gods essence and His relation to people. He is everywhere in His essence, but with specific individuals He is far or near relationally. When we become Christians, Christ dwells in us. God can fill us with His fullness (Eph. 3:19), and the Spirit who lives in us can also fill us (1:13; 5:18). But before Gods Spirit indwelt us relationally, His essence convicted us of sin and saved us.
The Old Testament tells us that God dwelt between the wings of the cherubim on the Ark of the Covenant. That location was a symbol of Gods presence. Today the church represents Gods presence on earth. In the Millennium, Christs rule on the throne of David in Jerusalem will represent Gods presence. In Heaven His presence will be represented by the throne of Revelation 45. Remember, though, that the symbol of Gods presence never restricts His essence.
Suggestions for Prayer
Praise God that He is omnipresent, and thank Him that He lives in you.
For Further Study
What does Psalm 139:7-18 teach about Gods omnipresence? What was Davids response (vv. 17-18)?
Studying God’s Word ping
Amen!
He upholds all things by the Word of His power. He’s what keeps the universe from flying apart/exploding. One day He’ll stop His upholding and it will all come to an end.
Heb 1:3 Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;
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