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.
Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation (Ps 139:7–10). Tyndale House Publishers.
Although we live apart from the new creation we will eventually live in, we cannot leave the relational presence of our Lord. God created us with the capacity and desire for relationships because He is relational. Being made in His image means being relational like Him. We were also given the gift of free will because relationships are most fruitful when you choose to be in them. That is why God’s persistent, all-encompassing presence matters so much. God is not a surveillance state but a loving father, always close enough for you to reach out and hug. To love God is to not want to escape His presence. This psalm is not a lament; it is meant for praise. How blessed we are to have a God who is always near! The only response from someone who truly seeks His heart is to draw nearer, no matter the circumstances.
Trying to leave God’s presence and disregard His will doesn’t reflect reality—it signals either immaturity or rebellion. I pray that if you attempt to remove yourself from the presence of our Lord and Savior, it is because you knew no better. For ignorance is an easier fix than rebellion. Whether we need to repent or learn more, this passage ends with hope because God will guide and support us. Yesterday, I said we cannot circle the wagons and wait for Christ to return. Regardless of eschatology, we are not commanded to live this way. We don’t need guidance and support just to sit and wait. We need guidance and support from the Maker of Heaven and Earth as we share the Good News of Jesus Christ, the Risen King, across the entire globe. If our God is for us, then we should expect nothing to stand against us. “The way things are nowadays” does not stand up to the authority of the Gospel. Stewardship of manmade things that will rot and burn is not, has never been, nor will ever be greater than the stewardship of the witness to the resurrection of the Messiah. If you accept the Lordship of Jesus and submit your life to Him, you should welcome His presence in every moment and allow it to change how you live in this creation. As good and holy as the new creation will be, maybe the real destination is the Jesus we have along the way.
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