God's presence with us is not the same thing as we being in God's presence. God's presence is every were, but he himself is not everywhere. Why would we need to travel or come into his presence as scripture says (Heb 4:16) if he is right here with us right now?” If coming to God is physiological how can a physical (fleshly) organism come to a spiritual place? Jesus said my Kingdom is not of this world, and if it is not of this world, then it is in another place.
Psa 139:7-8
(7) Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art
there.
Notice: the psalmist is not talking about God himself, but only his (God's) presence.
Jer 23:23-24
(23) "Am I only a God who is nearby?" announces the LORD. "Am I not a God who is also
far away?
(24) Can anyone hide in secret places so that I can't see him?" announces the LORD. "Don't I fill
heaven and earth?" announces the LORD. (NirV)
Isa 57:19
(19) Then the people of Israel who are sorry for their sins will praise me. I will give perfect peace
to those who are far away and those who are near. And I will heal them," says the LORD.
(NirV)
These few verses tell us that God's presence is every were. Yet not only is he near us, but
also far away. How can that be? You can not be near, and far away at the same time, can he?
Hebrews 4:15-16
(15) For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but
was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.
(16) Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and
find grace to help in time of need.
If God himself was near us, (he is but only by his presence) then why would the word of God tell us to come to the throne of grace, (which is not of this world) if he was already here with us?
Psalms 43:3-4
(3) O send out Your light and Your truth, let them lead me; let them bring me to Your holy
hill and to Your dwelling.
(4) Then will I go to the altar of God, to God, my exceeding joy; yes, with the lyre will I praise
You, O God, my God!
If God was near us, then why does this scripture ask God,” to send out his light and truth” so as to lead and bring us to his holy hill?
There is nothing that can separate us from the love of God as the Apostle Paul tells us in Roman
8:38.
Rom 8:38-39
(38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor
things present, nor things to come,
(39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love
of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Heb 4:12-13
(12) For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even
to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the
thoughts and intents of the heart.
(13) Neither is there any creature that is not manifest in his sight: but all things are
naked and opened unto the eyes of him with whom we have to do.
We can we have the presence of God with us and yet have our hearts far from him! This is a great
mystery and it needs to be understood it if we are to grow in Christ, and be partakers of God's divine
nature. Back in Romans Chapter 1:20
Rom 1:20
(20) For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen,
being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and
Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
God created this physical world with the intent to fashion it similar to the spiritual world. Man
now has a huge visual aid to help him understand his spiritual Kingdom, and not only his spiritual Kingdom but even how God is in that Kingdom! “..even his eternal power and Godhead...”
What was it that God created in this physical world that represents God in the spiritual world?
Mathew 17:1-2
(1) And after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an
high mountain apart,
(2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was
white as the light.
Revelations 21:22-23
(22) And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it.
(23) And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory
of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof.
John 8:12
(12) Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth
me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
Psalms 84:11
(11) The LORD God is like the sun that gives us light. He is like a shield that keeps us safe. The
LORD blesses us with favor and honor. He doesn't hold back anything good from those whose lives
are without blame. (NirV)
We just read that Jesus said,” he was the light of the world”. In the book of revelations Jesus (lamb
of God) replaces the light of the sun, and moon, and lights up the Kingdom of God. On the mountain of
transfiguration, Jesus's face shined like the sun in its strength. The Lord is like the sun...(Psalms 84:11)
What do you think God,s revelation to man is in the physical world? The sun is not God, but it is a
representation of how God is in his eternal spiritual Kingdom. There were people along time ago that use to
worship the sun as God, and I am sure there are people today that still do. The Word of God tells us,
Romans 1:22-25
(22) Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools
(23) and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds
and animals and reptiles.
(24) Therefore God gave them over in the sinful desires of their hearts to sexual impurity for the
degrading of their bodies with one another.
(25) They exchanged the truth of God for a lie, and worshiped and served created things
rather than the Creator—who is forever praised. Amen.
The sun is not God, it is a created thing and is not to be worshiped. We are to worship he who
created it! Imagine your self out side on a clear sunny day. You can feel the warmth as the light rays from the sun strike your face, and it causes you to be able to see physical things in this world. Yet the sun is at rest in one place in the sky, its not moving, but at rest. That light you sense on you is representative as the presence of God with you. There is no place you can go to get away from it. “There is nothing hidden from the eyes with whom we have to do!”
God's light penetrates everything, just like the sun rays in this world. That's his presence with us, we reflect his Glory, and we can sense it with us, and on us! But remember, the sun has only one originating place in the sky. It is not every were, but in one spot only. Yet its light shines every were in our solar system. It has an impact on all things. God's presence is every were, but his originating source is in only one place. The manifestation of his being is revealed only in one place and one place only! God does not dwell in houses made with hands, He dwells only in the house he himself has built!
All light no matter what kind it is must have a originating place from were it shines from. God is light, and the source of that light emanates only from one spot, and that spot is where God himself is resting, which would be upon his throne upon Mount Zion the city of the living God.
Psalms 132:13-14
(13) For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
(14) This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
Psalms 102:16-17
(16) For the LORD has built up Zion; He has appeared in His glory.
(17) He has regarded the prayer of the destitute, And has not despised their prayer.(NAS77)
The Lord has built Mt Zion for his habitation. This is the place of his rest forever.
Yes, God's presence is every were, but he dwells only in one place! God is near, and he is also far away. This is why he tells us to come boldly to his throne of grace. He desires our presence to be with him as his presence is with us.