The Real Presence - What Is It? # 1

The Real Presence - What Is It? # 1

"If Your Presence does not go with us - do not send us up from here!" (Exodus 33:15).

There is a word in the text which heads this page which demands the attention of all Christians in this day. That word is "presence". There is a religious subject bound up with that word, on which it is most important to have clear, distinct, and scriptural views. That subject is the "presence of God," and specially the "presence of our Lord Jesus Christ" with Christian people. What is that presence? Where is that presence? What is the nature of that presence? To these questions I propose to supply answers.

1. I shall consider, firstly - the general doctrine of God's presence in the world.

2. I shall consider, secondly - the special doctrine of Christ's real spiritual presence.

3. I shall consider, thirdly - the special doctrine of Christ's real bodily presence.

The whole subject deserves serious thoughts. If we suppose that this is a mere question of controversy, which only concerns theological partisans, we have yet much to learn. It is a subject which lies at the very roots of saving religion. It is a subject which is inseparably tied up with one of the most precious articles of the Christian faith. It is a subject about which it is most dangerous to be wrong. Surely it is worth while to examine carefully the doctrine of the "presence" of God and of His Christ.

1. The first subject we have to consider is the general doctrine of GOD'S presence in the world. The teaching of the Bible on this point is clear, plain, and unmistakable. God is everywhere! There is no place in heaven or earth, where He is not! There is no place in air or land or sea, no place above ground or under ground, no place in town or country, no place in any country - where God is not present. Enter into your closet and lock the door - God is there. God is always near us - seeing, hearing, observing; knowing every action, and deed, and word, and whisper, and look and thought, and motive, and secret of everyone of us - wherever we are!

What says the Scripture? "His eyes watch over a man's ways, and He observes all his steps. There is no darkness, no deep darkness, where evildoers can hide themselves" (Job 34:21, 22). It is written in Proverbs, "The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good!" (Proverbs 15:3). "Great are your purposes and mighty are your deeds. Your eyes are open to all the ways of men; you reward everyone according to his conduct and as his deeds deserve" (Jeremiah 32:19).

"O Lord, you have searched me 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 know it completely, O Lord. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me, too lofty for me to attain! 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 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 139:1-2).

Such language as this, confounds and overwhelms us. The doctrine before us is one which we cannot fully understand. Precisely so. It is the weakness of our poor minds and intellects which we must blame. There are scores of things in the world around us, which few can understand or explain - yet no sensible man refuses to believe. And shall we, in the face of such facts, presume to doubt that God is everywhere present, for no better reason than this - that we cannot understand it? Let us never dare to say so again.

How many things there are about God Himself which we cannot possibly understand, and yet we must believe them, unless we are so senseless as to be atheists! Who can explain the eternity of God, the infinite power and wisdom of God, or the works of God in creation and providence? Who can comprehend a Being who is a Spirit, without body, parts, or passions? How can a material creature, who can only be in one place at one time, take in the idea of an immaterial Being, who existed before creation, who formed this world by His word out of nothing - and who can be everywhere and see everything at one and the same time! Where, in the word, is there a single attribute of God, which mortal man can thoroughly comprehend?

Where, then, is the common sense or wisdom of refusing to believe the doctrine of God being present everywhere, merely because our minds cannot take it in? "Can you fathom the mysteries of God: Can you probe the limits of the Almighty? They are higher than the heavens - what can you do? They are deeper than the depths of hell - what can you know? (Job 11:7, 8). Let us have high and honorable thoughts of the God with whom we have to do while we live, and before whose bar we must stand when we die. Let us seek to have just notions of His power, His wisdom, His eternity, His holiness, His perfect knowledge, His presence everywhere.

One half the sin committed by mankind, arises from wrong views of their Maker and Judge. Men are reckless and wicked, because they do not think that God sees them. They do things they would never do - if they really believed they were under the eyes of the Almighty God! It is written, "You thought that I was altogether such an one as yourself" (Psalm 1:21). It is written again, "They say, 'The Lord doesn't see it! The God of Jacob doesn't pay attention!' Is the one who made your ears deaf? Is the one who formed your eyes blind? He punishes the nations - won't He also punish you? He knows everything - doesn't He also know what you are doing?" (Psalm 94:7-10).

However hard it is to comprehend this doctrine - it is one which is most useful and wholesome for our souls. To keep continually in mind - that God is always present with us; to live always as in God's sight; to act and speak and think as always under His eye - all this is eminently calculated to have a good effect upon our souls. Wide, and deep, and searching, and piercing is the influence of that one thought, "You are the God who sees me!" (Genesis 16:13).

(a) The thought of God's presence - is a loud call to humility. How much which is evil and defective must the all-seeing eye - see in everyone of us! How small a part of our character is really known by man! "Man looks on the outward appearance - but the Lord looks on the heart!" (1 Sam. 16:7). Man does not always see us - but the Lord is always looking at us - morning, noon, and night! Who has not need to say, "God be merciful to me a sinner!"

(b) The thought of God's presence - is a crushing proof of our need of Jesus Christ. What hope of salvation could we have if there was not a Mediator between God and man? Before the eye of the ever-present God - our best righteousness is filthy rags - and our best doings are full of imperfection! Where would we be - if there was not a fountain open for all sin - even the blood of Christ! Without Christ - the prospect of death, judgment, and eternity would drive us to despair!

~J. C. Ryle~

(continued with # 2)