Have You Ever Had the Sense

that someone was watching you. It may have been in a mall, at a park or on the beach. Sometimes when we discover we are being watched we may feel uncomfortable or even frightened. In these situations this "sixth sense" functions as a defence mechanism. On other occasions having someone watching us may be extremely reassuring.

Theologians refer to God as being omnipresent. This simply means that he is capable of being everywhere at the same time. In the book of Jeremiah the prophet the Lord states "Can anyone hide from me in a secret place? Am I not everywhere in all the heavens and earth?" (Jer:23:24).

The psalmist David recognized this characteristic of God when he uttered the words "...I can never get away from your presence! If I go up to heaven, you are there, if I go down to the grave, you are there" (Ps 139:7-8). In the same psalm we read "You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do" (Ps 139:3). Job supported David's view when he made the observation "Doesn't he see everything I do and every step I take?" (Job 31:4).

Knowing that God sees everything we do and is intimately aware of all the situations that make up our lives can be either downright distressing or extremely comforting. If we are involved in things that do not bring honour to him it should cause us to feel uncomfortable, convict us of our sin and draw us back to him.

For those walking in obedience to him it can bring incredible comfort. Through Isaiah God said "When you go through deep waters, I will be with you...When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up" (Isa. 43:2).

There is one other aspect related to God's constant presence. It is this, not only does God watch over the believer but through his Holy Spirit he also dwells within them. The Apostle Paul confidently writes that our "body is the temple of the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor 6:19).

No one can EVER hide from God. He not only watches the godly man or woman but he keeps "his eye on both the evil and the good." (Prov 15:3). Because of his ability to constantly observe the actions of all his creation, when the day of judgment finally arrives for believers (The Judgment Seat of Christ) and unbelievers (The Great White Throne Judgment) each verdict he renders will be totally just and true. There is no getting away from it, we will have no choice but to take total responsibility for all we have done.

Many years ago, we visited my grandparents home. Most of us were sitting on lawn chairs behind the garage. All of a sudden, I had the sense of being watched. On looking up I discover that my grandmother was looking out of a bedroom window listening to the ongoing conversation. With God we will never "see" him watching us. However, that does not change the reality of the situation --- he is watching us through the "windows" of heaven! Truly, "The eyes of the Lord search the whole earth"(2 Chr. 16:9). Oh that we may live our lives in the constant realization that this is a Divine reality!

Copyright. Bruce February 2006

Note: All quotes taken from the New Living Translation Second Edition.