The Point of Omnipresence

Along the lines of my post on divine eternity, I guess I should vent about omnipresence as well. The typical seminary-guy definition of divine omnipresence goes something like this: "God is at every point in the universe in the totality of his being." Or something equally abstract and murky. Now, of course, I don't disagree with this statement, as far as I can understand what it is intended to mean. But, like the traditional view of divine eternity, I don't think it says enough that is biblical or personally compelling.

When God talked about his spatial relationship to the universe, he said things like this: "Am I a God at hand, declares the Lord, and not a God afar off? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the Lord" (Jer 23:23-24). Or, more comfortingly: "Where shall I go from your Spirit?/ Or where shall I flee from your presence?/ If I ascend to heaven, you are there!/ If I make my bed in Sheol, 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" (Ps 139:7-10). Does this mean God is not on Mars, Antares, or Betelgeuse? Of course not – God is personally present with all of his creation (cf. 1 Kings 8:27).

My problem with the more abstract definition is that it emphasizes that God is there. But the biblical accent on God's relationship to space is that God is here. Omnipresence is about God's personal presence with all people – to bless or to judge, to receive obedience or witness disobedience, to minister comfort or condemnation. It seems that God doesn't want us simply to define his omnipresence; there's a particular way in which he wants us to think about it. He wants this truth to play a particular role in our lives. And our definition of it should point us in that direction.

So I prefer this definition of omnipresence: "Wherever I go, the God of the universe is with me." Simple, biblically illuminating, and, at least implicitly, calls for a response.

So, my friend, go with God, for he goes with you.