It was lunchtime at a Catholic elementary school, and a large pile of apples was placed on a tray at the head of the long table upon which the food was placed. A note posted on the tray read: “Take only ONE. God is watching.” As the children moved further along the lunch line and got to the other end of the long table, they found a large plate of chocolate chip cookies. There, one mischievous child had written a note that read: “Take all you want. God is watching the apples.”

I hope you know that God can watch the apples and the cookies at the same time. The theological word for Him being everywhere at the same time all the time is omnipresent. This word combines two words omni (all) and present (in a particular place).

But how can God be omnipresent? He can do so because He is not a physical being. He is Spirit (John 4:24) rather than Body. This doesn’t mean He cannot assume bodily form if He chooses to do so. Proof of this can be found in God the Son’s frequent Old Testament appearances as The Angel of the Lord (Genesis 16:7-17; 22:11-18; Exodus 3:1-22; etc.) and in Him being born to the virgin Mary. As for God the Father and God the Holy Spirit, however, they remain eternally Spirit.

Charles Ryrie, in his book Basic Theology, writes the following about God’s omnipresence:

…omnipresence does not mean that God’s being is diffused throughout the universe as if part of Him is here and part of Him there. His whole being is in every place, and the presence of the Lord within every believer serves as a good illustration of this.

Omnipresence does not mean the immediacy of His presence does not vary. It does. His presence on His throne (Rev. 4:2), in Solomon’s temple (2 Chron. 7:2), or in the believer (Gal. 2:20) certainly differs in its immediacy from His presence in the lake of fire (Rev. 14:10). Though in the lake of fire people will be separated from the face-presence of God (2 Thes. 1:9, prosopon), they will never be separated from Him who is omnipresent (Rev. 14:10, enopion).

The Bible’s most extensive passage on the subject of God’s omnipresence is Psalm 139:7-12, where David says to God:

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. If I say, “Surely the darkness shall fall on me,” Even the night shall be light about me; Indeed, the darkness shall not hide from You, But the night shines as the days; The darkness and the light are both alike to You. (N.K.J.V.)

Jeremiah 23:23-24 also speaks to the fact of God’s omnipresence. That passage says:

“Am I only a God nearby,” declares the Lord, and not a God far away? Who can hide in secret places so that I cannot see them?” declares the Lord. “Do not I fill heaven and earth?” declares the Lord. (N.I.V.)

So, if you will permit me to play off my opening illustration, take all you want of some sin today, but just know that God is watching. He fills heaven and earth and doesn’t miss one thing you do either for good or bad. If you will keep this simple fact in mind as you move through each day, you’ll be surprised at how it helps you live a more godly life.