Known

Where can I go from your Spirit?
    Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
    if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
    if I settle on the far side of the sea,
even there your hand will guide me,
    your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
    and the light become night around me,”
even the darkness will not be dark to you;
    the night will shine like the day,
    for darkness is as light to you.
Psalm 139:7-12 NIV

The Lord is with us at all times in order to guide and support us. David understood this as well as anyone, and he sensed God’s purpose in pursuing him wherever he went. Once again, David refers to God’s gracious hand. We are secure in God’s right hand, a symbol of His mighty power.

God’s constant presence also protects us in darkness and lights our way. The darkness does not cover or hide us so that God cannot see us. When night falls, the Lord can still see us, because darkness is not dark to Him. for He is light. In our darkness, He gives us light, brightening our way.

Darkness is a symbol of doom as well as a symbol of evil. In the darkest times of our lives—the most painful trials and the most difficult challenges—God is with us. The light of His glorious presence guides our way, brightens our heavy spirits, shows us there is nothing to fear and gives us hope.

The light of the Lord also drives away any evil forces that gather around us. When light appears, darkness disappears. Likewise, when we allow the light of God to penetrate our sinful souls, He drives out the darkness that is within us—the sinful power of our corrupt human nature.

Just as with the Lord’s omniscience, His omnipresence should motivate us to live holy and righteous lives. The realization that God is present when we sin should serve as a powerful incentive to do what is right instead. This is even more true for us today than it was for God’s people in Old Testament times, for God’s Spirit now actually lives within every genuine believer. The reality of the indwelling Spirit’s presence should sober us when we are wrestling with our sinful nature and tempted to do wrong. When we sin, we are dragging God’s Spirit along with us. It is not just that God is there witnessing what we do; He is within us. When we defile our bodies with sin, we also bring shame to the Holy Spirit who lives in our bodies.

Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. James 1:17-18 NIV

You have searched me, Lord,
    and you know me.
You know when I sit and when I rise;
    you perceive my thoughts from afar.
You discern my going out and my lying down;
    you are familiar with all my ways.
Before a word is on my tongue
    you, Lord, know it completely.
You hem me in behind and before,
    and you lay your hand upon me.
Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
    too lofty for me to attain.
Psalm 139:1-6 NIV

Living with constant awareness of God’s omniscience is a key element to the Christian walk. The fact that the Lord knows everything about us—down to the smallest detail—should both comfort us and motivate us to live pure and righteous lives. It should also convict us greatly. Before we speak an untruth, dwell on an impure thought, or commit a sinful act, our awareness that God knows about it may deter us from sin.

Do not be deceived into thinking you can sin and get away with it. Even when no other human being is watching, God is. His all-seeing eye catches everything we do, and we are fully accountable to Him. Remember Achan (Joshua 7), who thought no one would know when he disobeyed God by taking a portion of Jericho’s spoil. No human eyes witnessed his treacherous deed, but the Lord saw him, and Achan paid for his sin with his life.

On the other hand, God’s omniscience should serve as a great source of comfort. Nothing that happens to us escapes God’s attention. He is fully aware of every trouble, trial, and threat we face. He is constantly watching over us, guarding and protecting us at all times. We can rest peacefully and walk fearlessly through life knowing that His loving, careful eye is always on us.

The Father of Lights

The God Who Sees Us