Yesterday, I wrote about "dwelling in the house of the Lord forever." What does it mean to dwell in the house of the Lord forever? In one sense ... nothing ... or everything. I mean, God doesn't have a "house." Believers are "the Body of Christ" (1 Cor 12:27) and His "temple" (1 Cor 3:16), but clearly His "house" isn't made by hands (Acts 7:48). So it is metaphorically to live in His presence. And what does it mean to live in the presence of God?
Obviously God is not a physical being, so we're not talking about location. Obviously, God is omnipresent, so we are always in His presence. Psalm 145 says, "The Lord is near to all who call upon Him" (Psa 145:18). While the Lord is omnipresent and near to everyone, clearly there is an element of Him being near -- of us being in His presence -- that depends upon us. It is our willingness to be looking at Him. The Aaronic Blessing (Num 6:24-26) talks about God's face shining on us. In a similar sense, to be "in His presence" means we need to be "looking at Him." We need to "seek His face" (2 Chron 7:14).
In Matthew 7, Jesus tells a particular group of people "I never knew you" (Matt 7:21-23). Of course He knew them in the sense of knowledge, but He had no relationship with them. In the same way, we're always in His presence, so living in His presence is more about our awareness than His presence. Living in His presence requires a relationship with Him that we recognize and practice. We need to be "fixing our eyes on Jesus" (Heb 12:2) ... practicing His presence.
There is also the ultimate sense of being in His presence in eternity. We struggle now to keep our eyes fixed upon Him. But we long for the time where that won't be a struggle.
ReplyDeleteI like the distinction you made between God’s omnipresence (and omniscience) and the special relationship that His children--those born again through faith in Jesus Christ--enjoy with Him on a continuous basis. I think of two examples of very close relationships where physical presence might not occur full-time, yet spiritual and/or emotional connection is steadfast: when parents are temporarily separated from their precious child(ren) and when loving spouses are apart for a bit. In both cases, the relationship is solid and continual, even if briefly interrupted. So too am I always related and relating to my heavenly Father; I am eternally bonded to Him, even when/if I cause estrangement through sin or neglect on my part. Even greater than my cherished relationships with my children and husband, my communion with God should be the most important connection in my life. May I “practice His presence” until it is realized perfectly in Heaven.
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