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THE OMNIPRESENCE OF GOD
MEN universally encourage themselves in sin, from the hopes of impunity. But they are under a fatal delusion: for however secret their iniquities may be, there is One who beholds them, with all their aggravating circumstances, and will bring them forth to the light, as grounds of his righteous indignation. The false prophets of old imagined that their pretensions to inspiration would subject them to no danger, provided they could preserve appearances before men; but God expostulates with them in the words before us, and appeals to their own consciences for a testimony against them. He appeals to them respecting the omnipresence of the Deity; to which important subject we would now call your attention,
I. In a way of rational inquiry—
The Heathen believed their gods to be confined to particular temples, or to certain districts [Note: 1Ki_20:23.]: but can we imagine that Jehovah is thus limited?
Consult reason—
[Is God the Creator of the world? How then can he be absent from any part of it, seeing that he must have been present with the whole at the time he formed it? Is he the Governor of the world? how then can he be limited to any place, since he must be every where, to direct and manage those events, which, without his superintending providence, would throw the universe into confusion. Is he God? if he be, he must be perfect; but if he be circumscribed by space, he must be imperfect; he must be ignorant of those things which he cannot behold, and impotent in respect of those things which he cannot reach.]
Consult Scripture—
[The sacred records testify that he is in heaven; for “he dwelleth in the high and holy place [Note: Isa_57:15.].” Yet they do not limit him to heaven; for “the heaven of heavens cannot contain him [Note: 1Ki_8:27.].” He is spoken of as existing upon earth; for “in him we live, and move, and have our being [Note: Act_17:28.].” Yet it is not in any particular part of the earth that he exists; for “he filleth all in all [Note: Eph_1:23.].”]
Consult conscience—
[Every man who has ever heard of God has within him a consciousness that the Divine Being is present with him, and is privy to his most secret thoughts, In the midst of their wickedness indeed men try to persuade themselves that God does not see them [Note: Gen_3:8. Job_22:13-14. Psa_94:7.]: but in seasons of reflection they cannot divest themselves of the conviction, that his all-seeing eye penetrates the inmost recesses of their hearts. What David confessed with joy, they feel with terror and dismay; that, whether they be in heaven, earth, or hell, they cannot for one moment escape the notice of their God [Note: Psa_139:1-12.].
God is said indeed to have dwelt in the temple, and in the bush; and to be “far from the wicked:” but all such expressions relate, not to his essence, but to the manifestations of his presence. In every possible view, the appeal made to us in the text defies an answer, and precludes a doubt.]
Not to rest in mere theories, let the same subject be considered,
II. In a way of practical improvement—
Numberless are the truths which this subject would suggest to our minds; but we must of necessity confine ourselves to a few of the most important:
1. What folly is it to commit sin under the idea of secrecy!
[That such folly obtains in the world, is manifest to all. The thief takes advantage of his privacy to lay his hand upon his neighbour’s property. The adulterer watches for the return of night, when he may accomplish his wicked purposes without detection [Note: Job_24:15-17.]. Sinners of every description commit in secret what they would not dare to perpetrate, if they knew that the eyes of their fellow-creatures were upon them. But whence is this, unless from the atheistical conceit that God is not privy to their actions, or from an utter forgetfulness of his presence? Such conduct however is folly in the extreme: for God’s eyes are in every place, beholding the evil and the good [Note: Pro_15:3.].” “The darkness is no darkness to him: the night and the day to him are both alike:” and, as he observes, so will he also “bring to light, the hidden things of darkness, and make manifest the counsels of the heart [Note: 1Co_4:5.]” as a ground of that sentence which he will one day pass upon all the workers of iniquity.
Let this be remembered in reference to all the sins we have ever committed in secret; and let it teach us to seek the remission of them while yet the day of mercy is continued to us.]
2. How vain are the hopes of the hypocrite!
[It is no very difficult matter to impose upon men: yea, we may also deceive our ownselves; but we cannot deceive God. However specious our conduct may be, he will discern our corrupt motives and principles, and will judge us according to the real quality of our actions. There is one way, and only one, in which we can hide our sins from God; and that is, by fleeing to the Lord Jesus Christ for refuge: then, though God will behold the sinner, he will not behold the sin; for it shall all be “blotted out as a morning cloud,” and be “cast behind him into the depths of the sea:” the vilest sinner in the universe, if he “be found in Christ,” shall be “complete [Note: Col_2:10.],” “without spot or blemish [Note: Eph_5:27.].” Such a hiding-place is Christ [Note: Isa_32:2.]; and such shall be the felicity of all that believe in him [Note: Act_10:43.]. But it is in vain to hope that by any other means we shall escape the wrath of God: for “all things are naked and open unto the eyes of Him with whom we have to do;” and every sin not purged away by the blood of Jesus shall be visited with just and everlasting judgments.]
3. How secure are they who put their trust in God!
[Many of the enemies with whom the Christian has to contend, are hidden from his view: but neither they nor any of their devices are concealed from the eyes of God. He is everywhere present to protect his people, and to defeat the plots of their adversaries. He it is that has given to our enemies the strength and wisdom which they exert against us; and he engages that “none of the weapons which they form against us shall prosper [Note: Isa_54:16-17.].” “Let the weak then say, I am strong:” for “if God be for them, who shall be against them?” Only let them “acknowledge him in all their ways,” and depend upon him in all their trials, and they need not fear [Note: Psa_46:1-2.]; for “his eyes shall run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to shew himself strong in their behalf [Note: 2Ch_16:9.].”]