We are always in the presence of God. We may not always be aware of it, but He is there. God’s presence is all around us. We wouldn’t last a moment without Him. While I understand the intent behind the statement, it always irks me when people say things like, “God showed up and was with us in that moment.”
I’m sure you’ve heard similar things, and odds are better than not you’ve probably even said something similar. I know I have. But there is no “God was with us there”. He is always there, and we are always with Him. Nothing can separate us from the love of the Father (Romans 8:38-39). Nothing can snatch us out of His presence (John 10:28).
While it is true He is always there, God’s presence is not something we should take for granted. Instead, we should rejoice and be ever thankful He has chosen to dwell with men. By looking at history, we can see what happens when the Lord restrains His presence by even a small amount (Genesis 6:11-21). In Revelation, we read of what it will look like when God withdraws His hand of protection. God’s presence allows us to live, breathe, eat, sleep, and work. The Lord makes all things possible. There is nothing He cannot do, and there is nowhere He cannot go.
God’s presence is everywhere at all times. He is simultaneously in the past, present, and future because He is not bound by the human concept of time. There is nowhere we can wander from His watchful eye. Nothing we do escapes His notice. Everything you’ve ever done in secret was on full display to God. Our righteous King heard every word we’ve spoken in confidence or under our breath. At this point, there should be no one who is not blushing and hanging their head. Christ observed what we tried to hide.
It’s easier to pretend God is not omnipresent. Knowing He is everywhere at all times means our choices have ramifications. It means there is not a sin that is unknown to the Father. This should alter the way we live. There are no secrets in the Kingdom of Heaven, no matter how badly we might wish there were. We all must answer for every careless word and every act against the holiness of God. We cannot hide our words and actions from God, and they will have consequences.
How then shall we live? Should we continue pretending God is ignorant or indifferent to our thoughts and activities? To do so would be to live in complete denial of reality. Instead, understanding God’s presence is twenty-four hours per day, three hundred sixty-five days a year, should sober us into a life of absolute surrender to Him. Put away your old way of living and live in complete obedience and surrender to Jesus (Ephesians 4:20-24). He is never not beside you. Remember this as you go about your day. The Lord knows and the Lord sees. Knowing this, what changes will you make in your life right now?