The Word - Jan. 25, 2012 - Where is God?

"So remember this, and keep it firmly in your mind: The Lord is God, both in heaven and on earth, and there is none other" (Deuteronomy 4:39).

There may be occasions in your life when overcome with tragedy or weighed down by financial stress you have occasion to give expression to the thought: Where is God? We discover the answer of faith written for us in Psalm 42: 11: "Why am I discouraged? Why is my heart so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will continually praise Him; my Savior and my God."

Where is God? He is in heaven above and in the earth beneath. He is all around His people.

God is above His people. We discover this assurance in the ninety-first Psalm: "He that dwells in the secret place of the most high shall abide under the shadow on the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress. My God! In Him i will trust. He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall trust. His truth shall be your shield and buckler." (vs. 1-4).

God is beneath His people. We are reminded of this in Deuteronomy 33:27: "The Eternal God is your refuge, and His everlasting arms are under you." The bride in the Song of Solomon exclaims concerning her bridegroom, "His left hand is under my head, and His right hand embraces me" (2:6). Yes, beloved, all who have found the Lord ass their refuge can exclaim, "Underneath are His everlasting arms."

God goes before His people. We are reminded of how God led the children of Israel after they departed from Egypt. "and the Lord went before them by day in a pillar of a cloud, to lead them in the way; and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light." (Ex. 13:21).

God is behind His people. Just imagine the fear that gripped the children of Israel, the sea was ahead of them, the mountains on either side, and the Egyptians coming at them from the rear. "And the angel of the Lord, who went before them, removed and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud came between the camp of Israelites and the camp of the Egyptians." (Vss. 19-20).

God is around His people. "The angel of the Lord is as a guard; He surrounds and defends all who fear Him." (Psalm 34:7).

God is with His people. "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will uphold you with my right hand of righteousness. (Isa. 41:10).

God is within His people. The Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit...one God in three persons, make their abode within the believer. Not only is God with us, but He lives in us. His life is our life.

Where is God? Beloved, He is everywhere! His eye is upon you. His arm protects you. He is above, beneath, before, behind, around and within you. "Hope thou in God; for I shall yet praise Him who is the health of my countenance."