Where shall I go from your Spirit?
Or where shall I flee from your presence?
Psalm 139: 7
In the process of moving, not knowing where everything is can be a bit disconcerting. After living in my apartment for a month, I ask daily, “Now, where did I put …?” Movers can only do so much. If the box says office, they put the box in the office. When my sweet friends helped me pack boxes, however, an office supplies box might happen to contain a bathroom or kitchen item. In turn, an office item might end up in the bathroom. Oh, yes—the bed pillows are packed around my breakable dishes. Of course. Then there is the problem of, “Now where did I put my cell phone?” (I still haven’t figured out how to locate my wayward cell phone with my smart watch.)
Along with the move, I am obligated to locate new places. Although I lived in the area off and on in years past, the area has ballooned, and new roads have altered the map in ways that tend to get me lost. My Global Positioning System (GPS) gets a good workout. Yesterday I planned to meet my nephew for lunch, assuming I knew where to go. After all, I’d been there many times in past years. I got lost. When I realized I had made a wrong turn, I resigned myself to tune in my GPS. I was only a block away.
Well, guess what? God never loses track of me. He doesn’t need a smart watch or GPS to know where I am. His presence is such great comfort. Going through life on my own can be a bit scary. Yet, as a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ, I am never alone. He sees me. His name “El Roi” tells me He sees me.
God’s Spirit dwells within me as my spiritual GPS.
Is there a downside to God’s omnipresence? Not if we have trusted Him as our Lord and Savior. On the other hand, those who do not have a relationship with our Father in heaven may have some legitimate concern as to God’s ubiquity.
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.
Psalm 139: 11-12
You cannot hide from God,
Tho’ mountains cover you,
His eye our secret thoughts beholds,
His mercies all our lives enfold,
He knows our purposes untold,
You cannot hide from God.
You cannot hide from God,
No matter what you do,
He meets you at life’s every turn,
He knows your thoughts that blight and burn,
He weeps when His own Son you spurn,
You cannot hide from God.
You cannot hide from God,
Tho’ quietly you go,
He notes your footsteps ere they fall,
He hears your silent heartful call,
His knowledge rules high over all,
You cannot hide from God.
You cannot hide from God,
This one thing you can do,
If you would save your sinful soul,
If you would be made pure and whole,
If you would reach the highest goal,
Your soul must hide in God.
You cannot hide from God,
You cannot hide from God,
Wherever you go,
Whatever you do,
You cannot hide from God,
His eye is fixed on you,
You cannot hide from God.
AH Ackley (ca.1920)[ii]
~~~
Challenge: Ask yourself if you can trust God to keep you, to guide you, and to care for you because you know he is with you all the time. If you cannot answer “yes,” do not delay in trusting the Lord Jesus Christ as your Savior.
Prayer: Holy God, thank you that by trusting Jesus’ death on the Cross and His resurrection, I can depend on Your eternal, everlasting presence in my life. Because of Him and in His name, Amen.
[i] Stock photo
[ii] Reformed Press Hymnal: an all around hymn book which will meet the requirements of every meeting where Christians gather for praise #19
