God's ever-present love
How precious is the constant awareness of God's love! How many thousands have found comfort and encouragement in the words of the Psalmist: "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from they presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea; even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me." n1
n1 Psalms 139:7-10;
Recently, through a simple experience, I gained a deeper insight into the realities of God's omnipresence. Returning home from a meeting one evening, I switched on my TV to the PBS network. Immediately I found myself enthralled by a live performance from Lincoln Center in New York. For an hour I listened to a concert by three of the world's greatest violinists. At the very instant of production I could enjoy the nuance of every musical phrase, marvel at the dexterity of each artist's technique, and share in the creative genius of the occasion.
Yet by geography we were more than three thousand miles apart. That at least five hours of flying time and then more commuting by bus or taxi would be required before I could take a seat in Lincoln Center. But I was already there in thought. And not only I but a continentwide audience. Neither space nor time was separating the performers from each members of that vast group of people.
The wonders of human technology can only hint at the ever-present realities of divinity. Yet sometimes these hints can be useful in revealing something of the underlying spiritual facts they would simulate.
At the Last Supper with his disciples, Christ Jesus uttered this prayer: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou, Father, art in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us." n2
n2 John 17:20, 21;
The Bible reveals God as omnipresent Spirit, eternal Soul, infinite Mind, divine Love. Spirit needs no transmitters, receivers, satellites, or cables in order to be omnipresent.
The music I was enjoying from Lincoln Center was a beautiful human manifestation of a divine reality -- the infinite harmonies of the one ever-present Soul, God, who forever manifests His divine nature through His expression, man.
Learning to listen to that universal music of Soul, with its infinite variety of form and harmony, unfolds limitless spiritual beauty to all. "Soul has infinite resources with which to bless mankind," writes Mary Baker Eddy, n3 "and happiness would be more readily attained and would be more secured in our keeping, if sought in Soul." n4
n3 Mrs. Eddy is the Discoverer and Founder of Christian Science;
n4 Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures,m p. 60;
God is divine Soul, embracing His ever-unfolding creation in the beauties of heaven. God is constantly revealing to man, and though man, the ever-presence of His nature and being.
To understand that God is omnipresent Mind, forever imparting to man His infinitude of intelligent ideas, assures us that the answer to every problem is already at hand. Our job is to begin this process of understanding God. We must move beyond the competing -- and false --evidence that there are millions of finite and imperfect personal minds and listen for the spiritual ideas, or angels, constantly imparted by the one divine Mind to its reflection, man.
God is omnipresent, divine Love, embracing each one of us in His tender care every moment, everywhere. There is no outside to the infinitude of His love; no vacuums anywhere within it. His all-encompassing love is always available to guard and guide us. We have only to turn to this tender presence by rejecting fear and doubt, self-centeredness and self-will, and obey the divine direction. Then we will be able to say, as did Mrs. Eddy: "An increasing sense of God's love, omnipresence, and omnipotence enfolds me. Each day I know Him nearer, love Him more and humbly pray to serve Him better." n5
n5 The First Church of Christ, Scientist, and Miscellany,m p. 174.
DAILY BIBLE VERSE As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the Lord is round about his people from henceforth even for ever. Psalms 125:2