Title: Omnipresent God (Jeremiah 23:23-24)
Contents
The attributes of God closely related to God's absolute sovereignty are usually expressed in three ways. It is called omniscience, omnipotence, and omnipresence. To say that God knows everything and makes all things possible is called 'omnipotence', and omnipotence is expressed as 'absence of all things'.
Humans involuntarily ask this question. ‘Where is God (God)?’ Then, they wander in search of God or create a god.
We often say, “He is in heaven.” This refers to the meaning of existence that is different from ours, and does not impose limits on space or time. Our belief is that God is everywhere. But why are people interested in where God is? It's a funny story, but the reason is that if there is a God, it will make it difficult for them to stand. How good would it be if God did not exist for those who sin? That's why people hide and secretly do unjust things, saying, 'Doesn't God even know that I'm here?' And they live arrogantly. On the other hand, what if God was everywhere? What should my life look like when I believe in it? Come to think of it, whether God is everywhere or not is a very embarrassing problem for us humans. But the Bible clearly declares that God is everywhere, and He is fully present.
What we need to make clear here is that God's presence cannot be within the scope of our measurements, nor limited by any of our powers, nor limited to any one time or region. Even so, surprisingly, many people want God to be there at the time and place they want, thus compromising the omnipresence of God. Especially among those who believe in God, there are many who think so. It was with people like priests and prophets and kings. Jeremiah, a man of God, vehemently criticized this appearance. He rebuked them for being false and ignoring God. So, in today's text, we are proclaiming the omnipotence of God.
“I am near, saith the Lord, and am not God far away, saith the Lord. Who can hide himself in a secret place, so that a man may not be seen from me? Do I not fill the heavens and the earth, saith the LORD?” This is the declaration of the omnipresence of God.
God is omnipresent everywhere in the world. God does not exist as close and far apart as we think, but He is also a God nearby and a God far away. So nothing can be hidden from God. Concealment is impossible. God can reveal all of us. God fills the heavens and the earth. We must not think that we can escape God's gaze, God's hiding, God's omniscience, and God's omnipotence. That would be a very serious sin.
There have been many chaos in our society these days because of corruption, corruption, and bribery. At first, when there were any rumors, they said that they had absolutely nothing to do with it, that it was abusive, and that they would take legal action, but then they slowly lowered their tails and said that they did not know because someone else received them, and they received it without payment. Everything is to be revealed in the world, but what would it be like in the presence of an omnipresent God? So here's a funny story.
A person comes to you with a bribe to get a job and asks you to take the bribe. Then, because the person refused to accept the bribe, the person who took the bribe said it was okay to accept it because no one saw it. You see and I see, the earth sees and the sky sees.” It is said that he was kicked out while screaming.
That's right. Saints! We must always remember that God is everywhere and see Him, and we must put aside our self-righteousness and arrogance and live in fear of God.
Then, what would it look like to live a life that believes in the omnipresence of God?
First, we must clarify our relationship with God. What is the relationship between God and me?
For example, my relationship with my mother cannot be broken. It always exists as a relationship. My relationship with God is an absolute relationship that cannot be separated, and it can be done anywhere, and that is what leads to the fullness of the Holy Spirit. Being filled with the Holy Spirit means living in a right relationship with God under the power of God's omnipresence.
Second, it means always establishing a personal relationship with God.
That's why we talk with God, realize our calling, and devote ourselves.
Third, trust and trust to intervene concretely in our circumstances.
So, sometimes it seems that God is not there, and it seems that there is no answer to our cry, but God intervenes in our situation and He hears, knows, seeks, rescues, guides, and protects. In other words, it is a personal and concrete relationship that is evidenced in our faith experience.
Fourth, it makes it possible to live a life of reverence and worship in all that we do.
This is the era of so-called obscurity, where people like to live their lives they don't want to be known. So there are many things that are done in secret. Especially those in leadership positions.
Therefore, faith in God's omnipresence becomes a more precious grace for us. God transcends time and space, examining us, giving us grace, and judging us at the same time.
If we take this faith of omnipresence lightly, the authority of God will crumble and the authority of the church will collapse, and eventually we will destroy ourselves. God's power, providence, love, all His existence is the same yesterday, today, and forever. It's just that people think differently and lightly. All of us believers must become godly people of God who live by acknowledging the authority of the omnipotent and omnipresent God and proclaiming His power according to the teachings of God's Word.
“Where shall I go from Your spirit, and where shall I flee from Your presence?” (Psalm 139:7).
(Rev. Young-Taek Jung)