GOD’S EVER-PRESENCE (OMNIPRESENCE) IN THE WORLD HE CREATED

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ God,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

GOD’S EVER PRESENCE (OMNIPRESENCE) IN THE WORLD
HE CREATED

"Where can I go from Your
Spirit?
Or where can I flee from Your
presence?
If I ascend into heaven, You are
there;
If I make my bed in hell,
behold, 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…" (Psalm 138[139]:7-10).

"..AND LO, I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS,
EVEN TO THE END OF THE AGE." Amen.
(St. Matthew 28:30)

Our Almighty God and Creator is with us for ever and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen. God is not subject to absolutely any limitations, but fills everything. In Greek, we say, ‘O pantachou paron kai ta panta pleron’ (‘He Who is ever-present and fills all things.’) According to our Holy Father Saint John Damascenos, "The Divinity penetrates everything without being mingled with anything, but nothing can penetrate Him." Another great Saint of the Church, Saint John Chrysostomos says, "That God IS PRESENT EVERYWHERE WE KNOW, but how, we do not understand, because we can understand ONLY A SENSUOUS PRESENCE, and it is not given to us to understand FULLY THE NATURE OF GOD."

It is by the Divine Power of God that everything exists in the universe. It is He Who gives life to everything, including meaning and purpose. The Omnipresence of Almighty God is one of His Divine attributes. Other attributes are Omniscient, "All Things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him" (Hebrews 4:13). "My being while it was still unformed, Thine eyes did see" (Psalm 138[139]:16). God has FOREKNOWLEDGE OF THE FUTURE AND EVIL IN THE WORLD AND THE ACTS OF FREE BEINGS IS AS IT WERE CROWNED BY THE FOREKNOWLEDGE OF THE SALVATION OF THE WORLD, WHEN "God will be all in all" (1 Corinthians 15:28). God is "ALL RIGHTEOUS. Righteousness is understood in the word of God and in its general usage as having two meanings 1) Holiness and 2) Justice. God IS ALMIGHTY (OMNIPOTENT). He spoke, and they came into being; He commanded, and they were created". God is the Creator of the world. It is He Who cares for the world in His Providence. "But if God tolerates evil and evil people in the world, this is NOT because He cannot annihilate evil, but because He has given freedom to spiritual beings and directs them so that they might freely, OF THEIR OWN FREE WILL, REJECT EVIL AND TURN TO GOOD." God IS UNCHANGEABLE. "In the Father of lights, there is no variableness, neither shadow of turning" (James 1:17) Our Creator gives to His creatures, including us, as many good things as each of them can receive according to its nature and condition. (Source: Orthodox Dogmatic Theology)

In our Orthodox Christian liturgical tradition and worship, the opening prayer is directed to God the Holy Spirit: "O Heavenly King, O Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, Who ART IN ALL PLACES AND FILLEST ALL THINGS; Treasury of good things and Giver of Life! Come and dwell in us and cleanse us from every stain, and save our souls, O Gracious Lord."

As Orthodox Christian believers, we believe without any hesitation or doubt that our God and Creator IS EVER PRESENT THROUGHOUT HIS CREATION AND OVERSEES AND "in Him we live and move and have our being" (Acts 17:27-28). Therefore, we should never feel alone or abandoned, but be confident and faithful knowing that He is ALWAYS WITH US AND CONTINUES ALWAYS TO CARE FOR US.

A person of faith, a true Christian, never despairs at times of danger or a time of crisis, for God is with us. A spiritually mature Orthodox Christian is someone who totally depends on God for everything, just like a child depends on his father or mother. One who strives to achieve or to reach this kind of spirituality does not become less dependent, but more dependent on His Creator. This is why, as A CHILD OF GOD, before making any decision, He turns to prayer and seeks God’s guidance and wisdom. We are reminded by the holy Apostle Paul, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by PRAYER AND SUPPLICATION, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Philippians 4:6-7).

_____________________

"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"

– Saint John Chrysostomos

+ + +
With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God

+ Father George