Because the average of humanity thinks so little. Most of us judge life from its emotions. We do not search the depths.”
–Emerson Hough (54-40 or Fight)
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
–Psalm 46:1 (NKJV)
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“God! God! God! Best defined when undefined; a Fire that may not be touched; a Life too great for shape of image; a Love for which there is no equal name. Who is He? God! What is He? God! Of whom begotten? God! He is at once the question and the answer, the self-balance, the All.”
–Joseph Parker
I have through the years heard and read accounts of disaster and turmoil and loss and in the aftermath of those people have asked, “Where was God when I needed Him?” Let me answer that simply–He was there. Perhaps that is too simple an answer for it is a profound, incomprehensible statement regarding God. He was there, He is there, He will be there for He is omnipresent. Francis Schaeffer referred to Him as the “God who is there.”
Nonbelievers either do not want to believe that or refuse to accept it. Sure, and why not, for they do not have the knowledge of God, the understanding of His words when He said, “I will certainly be with you.” (Exodus 3:12). However, it is one of those things I do not quite understand when believers act and question God. When the storms come, those personal battles that rage within and around, they ask where is God? He is there. Seek Him. See, one of the great problems with humanity is that we rely far too often upon our feelings. We think we have to “feel” God. Pause for a moment–what does that mean, “feel God”? We live in a feel-good society, but often God is the most active when we don’t “feel” Him. God is Spirit, and therefore, “God is present in all places; we should not think of Him, however, as filling spaces, for He has no physical dimensions. It is as pure spirit that He pervades all things”. (J.I. Packer)
Why do believers refuse to accept His presence? After all, are we not His temple? Does not the Holy Spirit reside in us? Oh that we could even partially grasp the words of David when he wrote, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, 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 behold me.” (Psalm 139:7-10, NKJV).
Since He is the God who is there it should calm our fears about tomorrow. There should be no worries for He is there already. It should calm our worries about decisions for God He already sees the results of your decisions. He is here, now, this moment; yet He is also already in tomorrow. We cannot comprehend that concept with our feeble minds, but know that God is not bound by time–He created time. And that is a question I’ll just throw out here, but is a subject for another time–What is time to God?
Take heart, my friends, God is in the universe, everywhere present, at the same time. Job states, “Is not God in the height of heaven?” (22:12) and Isaiah proclaims the words of God, “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place…'”. (57:15, NKJV) God is not limited by time or by space! God asked Job some questions, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations? Tell me, if you understand who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone?” (38:4-6, NIV) Take heart then, if God is the high and lofty One, and if He is everywhere at once, knowing the beginning from the end why are we afraid? Why do we fret about tomorrow? He is the strength of our lives. (Psalm 27:1)
Where was/is God? Where was He when a family member was at death’s doorstep. He was there either to comfort or to welcome His child home. Where was He when a life was taken so suddenly? He was there watching, knowing that it was this person’s time to come before their Creator. There are three things to remember: 1) God cannot lie. That is not consistent with His character and He will always do what is consistent with His nature, character, and purpose. 2) God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone else to do evil. James writes, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.'” (1:13, NKJV) 3) God cannot deny Himself. He is always faithful to His Word. He is always faithful to His children. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (NKJV)
So where is God? Do you feel Him? Do you see Him? Do you smell Him? He is far removed from our natural senses. Yet, He is and always will be there. He is not in time for He is above time. He is at the beginning of creation and He is already at the White Throne. He is everywhere and everywhere at once. My mercy! Don’t that make you want just either jump up and shout or bow low in adoration. He is–the God who is there! Think of that! Because He is omnipresent means that He is able to give His entire attention to millions of individuals at the same time (Packer). “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13, NKJV)
———————————–
“God! God! God! Best defined when undefined; a Fire that may not be touched; a Life too great for shape of image; a Love for which there is no equal name. Who is He? God! What is He? God! Of whom begotten? God! He is at once the question and the answer, the self-balance, the All.”
–Joseph Parker
I have through the years heard and read accounts of disaster and turmoil and loss and in the aftermath of those people have asked, “Where was God when I needed Him?” Let me answer that simply–He was there. Perhaps that is too simple an answer for it is a profound, incomprehensible statement regarding God. He was there, He is there, He will be there for He is omnipresent. Francis Schaeffer referred to Him as the “God who is there.”
Nonbelievers either do not want to believe that or refuse to accept it. Sure, and why not, for they do not have the knowledge of God, the understanding of His words when He said, “I will certainly be with you.” (Exodus 3:12). However, it is one of those things I do not quite understand when believers act and question God. When the storms come, those personal battles that rage within and around, they ask where is God? He is there. Seek Him. See, one of the great problems with humanity is that we rely far too often upon our feelings. We think we have to “feel” God. Pause for a moment–what does that mean, “feel God”? We live in a feel-good society, but often God is the most active when we don’t “feel” Him. God is Spirit, and therefore, “God is present in all places; we should not think of Him, however, as filling spaces, for He has no physical dimensions. It is as pure spirit that He pervades all things”. (J.I. Packer)
Why do believers refuse to accept His presence? After all, are we not His temple? Does not the Holy Spirit reside in us? Oh that we could even partially grasp the words of David when he wrote, “Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, 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 behold me.” (Psalm 139:7-10, NKJV).
Since He is the God who is there it should calm our fears about tomorrow. There should be no worries for He is there already. It should calm our worries about decisions for God He already sees the results of your decisions. He is here, now, this moment; yet He is also already in tomorrow. We cannot comprehend that concept with our feeble minds, but know that God is not bound by time–He created time. And that is a question I’ll just throw out here, but is a subject for another time–What is time to God?
Take heart, my friends, God is in the universe, everywhere present, at the same time. Job states, “Is not God in the height of heaven?” (22:12) and Isaiah proclaims the words of God, “For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: ‘I dwell in the high and holy place…'”. (57:15, NKJV) God is not limited by time or by space! God asked Job some questions, “Where were you when I laid the earth’s foundations? Tell me, if you understand who marked off its dimensions? Surely you know! Who stretched a measuring line across it? On what were its footings set, or who laid its cornerstone?” (38:4-6, NIV) Take heart then, if God is the high and lofty One, and if He is everywhere at once, knowing the beginning from the end why are we afraid? Why do we fret about tomorrow? He is the strength of our lives. (Psalm 27:1)
Where was/is God? Where was He when a family member was at death’s doorstep. He was there either to comfort or to welcome His child home. Where was He when a life was taken so suddenly? He was there watching, knowing that it was this person’s time to come before their Creator. There are three things to remember: 1) God cannot lie. That is not consistent with His character and He will always do what is consistent with His nature, character, and purpose. 2) God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He tempt anyone else to do evil. James writes, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He Himself tempt anyone.'” (1:13, NKJV) 3) God cannot deny Himself. He is always faithful to His Word. He is always faithful to His children. Paul tells us in 2 Timothy 2:13, “If we are faithless, He remains faithful; He cannot deny Himself.” (NKJV)
So where is God? Do you feel Him? Do you see Him? Do you smell Him? He is far removed from our natural senses. Yet, He is and always will be there. He is not in time for He is above time. He is at the beginning of creation and He is already at the White Throne. He is everywhere and everywhere at once. My mercy! Don’t that make you want just either jump up and shout or bow low in adoration. He is–the God who is there! Think of that! Because He is omnipresent means that He is able to give His entire attention to millions of individuals at the same time (Packer). “And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account.” (Hebrews 4:13, NKJV)