I can never escape from your Spirit!
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.
If I ride the wings of the morning,
if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me,
and your strength will support me.” (Psalm 139:7–10, NLT)
This weekend I am preaching on the story of Jonah. As I was preparing my message, there was one verse that stood out for me. When Jonah is told to go to Ninevah, he flees in the opposite direction. God had sent him east, and Jonah goes west. The text says, “But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the LORD.” (Jonah 1:3, ESV)
It says that Jonah intended to flee from the presence of the Lord. My first thought was, “how can you do that?” Where can you go to flee from the presence of the Lord? That is impossible. God is omnipresent. It is a fancy way of saying that he is everywhere.
To know that God is everywhere is both fearful and encouraging. On one hand, I know that he sees everything that I do. On the other hand, I can never escape his great love for me. He can always find me no matter how lost I may be.
I am also reminded of Jesus’ words when he ascends into heaven where he promises that he is with us always to the end of the age. (see Matthew 28:20) How great it is that our God is with us always!
Leave a Reply