Dear Rose Park Reformed Church Family,
Today’s letter comes from our beloved Mary Wisner…
I continue the search for what the book of Job teaches us about God. So far, we have discovered our God is our defender against the wily accuser. He is infinitely patient and unexplainable. Today we learn that He is ever present.
Larry and I have this plaque we had specifically made for our home in upstate New York. It quotes Psalm121:1 & 2, “I lift my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” It was on the wall with a window overlooking a nearby cliff. Here in Holland, we have a dune behind us but the plaque still hangs on our wall. We learned that pagans set their altars on the hills in Israel such that the skyline was dotted with these altars. The Psalmist was probably referring to these. His help did not come from these false gods but from the true God.
In Job, we learn that God is always present. In theological terms, we may use the word omnipresent. He is not in some far off place but present. In the second scene of Job we observe God’s presence in what appears to be a meeting of some sort. In later chapters, he listens to all the arguments of Job and his friends. In the end, God claims His superiority, challenges them with it, and restores Job’s fortunes. God is not found on some far off place and indifferent but actively involved.
The O.T. and the N.T. are filled with verses that reenforce the truth of his constant presence everywhere. When God seems afar off, He is not. Ask yourself where you look for help? Bank account? Astrology? Status? Perhaps you don’t sense His presence because you are going through difficult times or hiding some secret sin.
God sent His son. Now, we have the Holy Spirit living within us. Our access to Him is literally at our fingertips. Remember his promise. Matthew 28:20 “and lo I am with you always…”
His peace, Mary Wisner
Photo by Daniel Leone on Unsplash