“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 by 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 hold me.”
- Psalm 39:7-10
The omnipresence of God lays a foundation from which both the folly and the sinfulness of sin is taken note of. What can set its folly in a stronger point of light? God has not only given us laws worthy to be obeyed, but he is always present to see whether we obey them. His all-seeing eye is never turned from us a single moment. Whether we wake or sleep, whether we weep or rejoice, whether we adore or blaspheme, he is always round about us, and his penetrating glance passes through our souls. His almighty power and everlasting mercy continually sustain us, while his justice is nigh and ready to cut us off. Who would think under such circumstances that we should dare to offend him?
But the poor blinded sinner beholds him not. He foolishly imagines that God is afar off, too far to notice his transgressions or to inflict upon him the merited punishment. Hence the language of his heart is, “Can God judge through the dark cloud? Surely God does not see, neither will the Almighty regard it.” The presence of a servant or a child is often sufficient to deter him from sin; but the presence of the great God, the Lord of Heaven and Earth, his Maker and Judge, is inadequate to produce this effect. What greater proof can we have of human blindness and folly?
But the divine immensity shows not only the folly but the exceeding sinfulness of sin. It does this by teaching the greatness and glory of that Being against whom sin is committed, and the circumstances of atrocity which attend it. By how much greater God is, by so much the more are we bound to respect his authority; and by so much greater is our guilt if we violate that authority.
But the immensity of God’s presence suggests a circumstance which exceedingly aggravates the guilt of sin. It teaches us to regard it as an audacious affront to his face. Sin is not committed behind his back or in some remote corner of the universe never visited by his presence. Even if it were, nothing could excuse its guilt and presumption. But it is always done while he surrounds us and penetrates us. How deeply this enhances the demerit of sin everyone can see at a glance. For shall not the presence of his glorious Majesty restrain us? Shall we dare to offend him in the very sight of his throne, with his almighty hand stretched out before our eyes, and his authoritative voice falling upon our ears?
As the omnipresence of God argues the great guilt of sin, so it likewise demonstrates the greatness of his forbearance towards those that offend him. How amazing that his wrath should not wax hot against those who continually trample upon his authority without fear or remorse; who do it, and persevere in doing it, in spite of his most solemn and earnest remonstrances.
But the Lord is God and not man, else the children of iniquity would be speedily consumed. He is long-suffering to us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to the knowledge of the truth. He knows our iniquities and all their aggravations, for they are committed under the immediate notice of his eye. But he knows also how to restrain his anger and to display the exceeding riches of his forbearance and long-suffering. May we never mistake this for forgetfulness, nor think that his long-suffering is an act of forgiveness.
Finally, this subject presents a comfortable view of divine providence, and invites us to place our trust under the shadow of God’s wings. Is he everywhere? He–the almighty, infinitely wise and gracious God–is everywhere. His power and grace are as near to us as his essence, and he cannot fail to be a present helper to all those who know and put their trust in him.
Cultivate, my Christian friends, a sense of God’s presence. It will enlarge your conceptions of his divine majesty. It will fortify your minds against temptation. It will encourage and strengthen you in duty; and in times of darkness and trouble, cause your consolations to abound.
