In God’s Presence
The phrase “the presence of God” is found but five times in the King James Bible. The first of the three Old Testament instances in which the phrase is utilized, speaks of the effect of God’s presence on the earth in the scattering of God’s enemies in Psalm 68:2. As smoke is driven away, so drive them away: as wax melteth before the fire, so let the wicked perish at the presence of God. The second and third times is in Psalm 68:8 in reference to God appearing to Moses to give him the Law to govern Israel. The earth shook, the heavens also dropped at the presence of God: even Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel. Surely all will agree that the presence of God is of great importance.
The two New Testament occurrences deal with those in God’s presence in Heaven. In Luke 1:19 we find Zacharias, father of John the baptizer being visited by the angel to deliver great news. And the angel answering said unto him, I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God; and am sent to speak unto thee, and to shew thee these glad tidings.The final time we see the phrase, is in Hebrews 9:24 and alludes to the fact that Jesus arose from the dead to return to be with His Father following His resurrection. This also informs that Christ intervenes for us before God in Heaven. For Christ is not entered into the holy places made with hands, which are the figures of the true; but into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God for us:
Christ was not a priest under the Law of Moses as He was of the tribe of Judah. However, following His resurrection, Jesus ascended to Heaven and is in the presence of God as our only High Priest as Hebrews 8:1-2 informs us. Now of the things which we have spoken this is the sum: We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the heavens;2 A minister of the sanctuary, and of the true tabernacle, which the Lord pitched, and not man.
God doesn’t make His presence known today as He did in Old Testament times. Neither is there any in the presence of God in Heaven, but the angels and the rest of the Godhead. 1John 5:7 is irrefutable proof the Godhead is there. For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one. Jesus’ response to the Sadducees in their error on resurrection in Matthew 22:29-30 proves that the angels are also in the presence of God. Jesus answered and said unto them, Ye do err, not knowing the scriptures, nor the power of God. 30 For in the resurrection they neither marry, nor are given in marriage, but are as the angels of God in heaven. And, John 3:13 dispels the false teaching of folks that their loved ones go directly to Heaven following death. And no man hath ascended up to heaven, but he that came down from heaven, even the Son of man which is in heaven.
We today, see God in the beauty of nature. God, in His omnipotence created all for a purpose. In Isaiah 45:18 God’s people were told: For thus saith the LORD that created the heavens; God himself that formed the earth and made it; he hath established it, he created it not in vain, he formed it to be inhabited: I am the LORD; and there is none else. But while enjoying nature we aren’t in God’s presence; we are simply appreciating what God has richly provided for us.
We cannot be in the presence of God as are Christ and the angels until time is no more and we have been granted entrance to that eternal home with Him. Of course, this will not happen unless we are obedient and remain faithful. God is omnipotent – all powerful. God is also omniscient – He sees everything. And, He is omnipresent, meaning He is everywhere. But this doesn’t mean we are always in His presence. We must hold Him in awe, and seek to be in His presence (Hebrews 10:25).
But don’t despair. We can be in God’s presence while we live here on earth. When we gather with the church to worship, we are in the presence of God. We aren’t to “assemble” for social, or other reasons. We come together to be in the presence of God Almighty! We can surely see this in Ephesians 2:22 as when we gather, God is in our presence. In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit. We are in God’s presence as together we bow to pray, raise our voices in song, as we commune around the Lord’s table to remember His Son’s death, and as we gladly return our offerings for the continuation of the work He has laid out for us in His Word. Worship is homage rendered to God in obeisance, a reverence in submission to “His Will”.
We also “meet” God in His revelation to us. His Word, the Bible, provides all the instruction needed so we can prepare ourselves to be in His presence for eternity. Without that preparation, and unless we remain prepared, we cannot spend eternity with Him; we will be separated from His presence. In Amos 4:12 we read of God’s warning to His Old Testament people Israel. Many of them had forsaken Him. It seems they didn’t want to be “in His presence”. Therefore thus will I do unto thee, O Israel: and because I will do this unto thee, prepare to meet thy God, O Israel. The church is the “spiritual Israel” of God. The same warning applies. We meet God in death! We will meet Him in the judgment!
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
