The question “Where is God?” is one that has been asked by humankind throughout the ages. Though God’s full nature is beyond our comprehension, the Bible provides some clues as to His location and presence in our world.
God is Everywhere
One of the most repeated themes in Scripture is that God is omnipresent – meaning He is everywhere at once (Psalm 139:7-12, Jeremiah 23:23-24). As creator of the universe, God is not limited by time or space, and His presence continuously upholds all of creation. He is present in the highest heavens and in the deepest valleys. There is no location in the universe that is absent of God’s presence.
God’s Presence in Heaven
Though God is everywhere, the Bible also portrays a special dwelling place of God in the heavenly realm. Passages like 1 Kings 8:30 and Psalm 33:13-14 describe God looking down from heaven. Heaven is portrayed as the locus of God’s presence, from which He hears prayers and dispenses judgment over the earth. However, we must be careful not to think of God as exclusively confined to heaven. As stated earlier, He is omnipresent and thus not limited to any spatial location.
God’s Presence Among His People
In addition to being everywhere in general, God makes His presence specially manifest among His people. In the Old Testament, God’s presence was concentrated in the tabernacle and temple, especially the Holy of Holies (Exodus 29:42-46, 1 Kings 8:10-13). Now, the body of Christ serves as God’s temple, and He dwells personally in each believer through the Holy Spirit (1 Corinthians 3:16-17, 6:19). God’s presence is promised wherever two or three gather in Christ’s name (Matthew 18:20).
God’s Presence Through Christ
The incarnation was the ultimate expression of God’s presence on earth. Jesus Christ was “God with us” in the most tangible sense (Matthew 1:23). After Christ ascended to heaven, He sent the Holy Spirit to continue His presence in the church (John 14:16-18). The incarnation of Christ establishes a new permanent closeness between God and His people.
In Search of God’s Presence
Though God is everywhere, we often do not experience His presence in the way the Bible describes. Sin inhibits our perception of God’s nearness and acts as a barrier between us. As we repent and draw closer to God through faith in Christ, we become more aware of His presence (Acts 17:27, James 4:8). The believer’s ultimate hope is the promise of seeing God face to face in eternity (Revelation 22:4).
God’s Hiddenness
At times in the Bible, God seems frustratingly hidden and silent (Job 23:8-9, Psalm 10:1). However, these periods of “God’s absence” are meant to draw us into closer seeking after Him. Even when God seems hidden, He remains sovereignly in control (Isaiah 45:15). We walk by faith, not sight – trusting in God’s word that He is always present even when we cannot perceive Him (2 Corinthians 5:7, Hebrews 11:1).
Where is God According to Other Religions?
Among world religions and philosophies, there are many competing views on God’s location and presence. Pantheism sees God as perfectly united with and embedded in the universe itself. Deism views God as distant and uninvolved with creation. Some Eastern religions see God as impersonal and diffused into all things. Atheism denies God’s existence altogether. The Christian understanding of an omnipresent, personal God most closely aligns with what the Bible teaches.
In Summary
The Bible portrays God as omnipresent while also describing a special dwelling place in heaven. He is everywhere at once, yet His presence is made manifest in a special way among His people. Ultimately, God’s fullest revelation is found in Christ who makes God’s presence tangible and personal. Though God sometimes seems hidden, He has promised never to leave or forsake His children (Deuteronomy 31:6). As we walk in faith, we can trust in God’s constant sustaining presence wherever we are.
Practical Applications
Recognizing that God is always present with us has several practical applications:
- We can have confidence to draw near to Him, knowing He is already near (Hebrews 4:16, James 4:8).
- We should live holy lives, remembering God sees everything we do (Psalm 139:7-10).
- We do not need to fear being alone, since God is always with us (Isaiah 41:10, Hebrews 13:5-6).
- We can pray constantly, conversing with God throughout all of life (1 Thessalonians 5:17-18).
- We can find comfort in God’s presence in the midst of suffering (Psalm 23:4, 2 Corinthians 1:3-5).
The doctrine of God’s omnipresence is not merely theological truth, but one that intersects practically with every area of life. Wherever we go, whatever we do, we can live in the reality that God is there.
Common Questions
Isn’t God’s presence concentrated in heaven?
God’s dwelling is indeed portrayed as being in heaven, but we must be careful not to limit God only to heaven. As creator of all, He cannot be confined to any spatial location. Heaven is certainly portrayed as the locus of God’s presence, but not to the exclusion of the rest of creation.
Why can’t I perceive God’s presence more?
Our sense of God’s nearness is often dulled by the effects of sin. Issues like ongoing unrepentant sin, prayerlessness, lack of Scripture reading, or incomplete surrender to Christ can all inhibit our perception of God’s presence. As we seek Him through spiritual practices and repentance, we become more aware of Him.
Is God more present in some places than others?
In one sense, God’s presence fills all things identically, since He upholds all creation. Yet the Bible also indicates that God makes His presence and glory known in a heightened way in certain places. In the Old Testament this was the tabernacle/temple, and now it is within the gathered church. But this does not mean God is “more” present in some places than others in an absolute sense.
If God is invisible, how can He be present?
Just because God is invisible does not mean He is not present. His presence is discerned not primarily through physical sight but through spiritual perception and faith. However, God has chosen at times to visibly manifest His presence in theophanies and ultimately through Christ. Though no longer physically present, Christ’s disciples were convinced of His continued real spiritual presence (John 20:29).
Couldn’t God’s omnipresence mean pantheism is true?
Pantheism states that God is perfectly one with creation to the point that creation itself is divine. But the Bible distinguishes between the transcendent God and His creation. God is present to and sustains creation but is also distinct from it (1 Kings 8:27). God is “in all” but not “all is God.” God’s omnipresence claims He is equally present everywhere, which differs from pantheism.
Conclusion
The doctrine that God is omnipresent provides great comfort and assurance for the believer’s life. Wherever we go, whatever we face, God is already there. His presence also reminds us that all our deeds are open before Him, prompting us to live holy lives. While God’s full presence is sometimes hidden from our perception, He has promised never to leave or forsake us. Through an ever deepening walk of faith we can grow in our awareness of God’s nearness and live fully in the reality of His constant sustaining presence.