The Real Presence - What Is It? # 2

The Real Presence - What Is It? # 2

How many things there are about God Himself which we cannot possibly understand, and yet we must believe them, unless we are so senseless as to be atheists! Who can explain the eternity of God, the infinite power and wisdom of God, or the works of God in creation and providence? Who can comprehend a Being who is a Spirit, without body, parts, or passions? How can a material creature, who can only be in one place at one time, take in the idea of an immaterial Being, who existed before creation, who formed this world by His word out of nothing - and who can be everywhere and see everything at one and the same time! Where, in a word, is there a single attribute of God, which mortal man can thoroughly comprehend?

Where, then, is the common sense or wisdom of refusing to believe the doctrine of God being present everywhere, merely because our minds cannot take it in? Well says the Book of Job, "Can you fathom the mysteries of God? Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens - what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of hell - what can you know?" (Job 11:7, 8). Let us have high and honorable thoughts of the God with whom we have to do while we live, and before whose bar we must stand when we die. Let us seek to have just notions of His power, His wisdom, His eternity, His holiness, His perfect knowledge, His "presence" everywhere.

One half the sin committed by mankind, arises from wrong view of their Maker and Judge. Men are reckless and wicked, because they do not think that God sees them. They do things they would never do - if they really believed they were under the eyes of the Almighty God! It is written, "You thought that I was altogether such an one as yourself" (Psalm 1:21). It is written again, "They say, 'The Lord doesn't see it! The God of Jacob doesn't pay attention!' Is the one who made your ears deaf? Is the one who formed your eyes blind? He punishes the nations - won't He also punish you? He knows everything - doesn't He also know what you are doing?" (Psalm 94:7-10).

No wonder that Job said in his best moments, "When I consider, I am afraid of Him" (Job 23:15). "What is your God like?" said a sneering infidel one day to a poor Christian. What is this God of yours like - this God about whom you make such ado? Is He great or is He small?" "My God," was the wise reply, "is a great and a small God at the same time - so great that the heaven of heavens cannot contain Him - and yet so small that He can dwell in the heart of a poor sinner like me."

"Where is your God, my boy?" said an infidel to a child whom he saw coming out of a church. "Where is you God about whom you have been reading?" Show Him to me, and I will give you a treat." "Show me where He is not," was the answer, "and I will give you two! My God is everywhere!" Well is it said that, "God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things that are mighty." "Out of the mouth of babes. You have perfected praise" (1 Cor. 1:27; Matt. 21:16).

However hard it is to comprehend this doctrine - it is one which is most useful and wholesome for our souls. To keep continually in mind - that God is always present with us; to live always as in God's sight; to act and speak and think as always under His eye - all this is eminently calculated to have a good effect upon our souls. Wide, and deep, and searching, and piercing is the influence of that one thought, "You are the God who sees me!" (Genesis 16:13).

(a) The thought of God's presence - is a loud call to humility.  How much which is evil and defective must the all-seeing eye - see in everyone of us! How small a part of our character is really known by man! "Man looks on the outward appearance - but the Lord looks on the heart!" (1 Sam. 16:7). Man does not always see us - but the Lord is always looking at us - morning, noon, and night! Who has not need to say, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"

(b) The thought of God's presence - is a crushing proof of our need of Jesus Christ. What hope of salvation could we have if there was not a Mediator between God and man? Before the eye of the ever-present God - our best righteousness is filthy rags - and our best doings are full of imperfection! Where would we be - if there was not a fountain open for all sin - even the blood of Christ! Without Christ - the prospect of death, judgment, and eternity would drive us to despair!

(c) The thought of God's presence - teaches the folly of hypocrisy in religion. What can be more silly and childish - than to wear a mere cloak of Christianity, while we inwardly cleave to sin, when God is ever looking at us and sees us through and through? It is easy to deceive ministers and fellow-Christians, because they often see us only upon Sundays. But God sees us morning, noon, and night,and cannot be deceived. Oh, whatever we are in religion - let us be real and true!

(d) The thought of God's presence - is a check and curb on the inclination to sin. The recollection that there is One who is always near us and observing us, who will one day have a reckoning with all mankind - may well keep us back from evil. Happy are those sons and daughters who, when they leave the family home, and launch forth into the world, carry with them the abiding remembrance of God's eye. "My father and mother do not see me - but God does!" This was the feeling which preserved Joseph when tempted in a foreign land: "How can I do this great wickedness - and sin against God?" (Gen. 39:9).

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 3)