Acts 17:27 That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: In relation to this truth our race may be divided into five classes — 1. Those who enjoy His presence, like the Psalmist, who said, "When I am awake I am still with Thee." 2. Those who are stolidly insensible of His presence, like those described by Paul in Ephesians 2:12 as being "without God and without hope in the world." 3. Those who are in horrific dread of His presence, like those of Job 21:14. "Depart!" — this is the unceasing cry of hell. 4. Those who are in earnest search of His presence (Job 23:3). This class comprehends all earnest inquirers. 5. Those who theoretically deny His presence (Job 22:12, 13). But these different opinions and feelings do not alter, even to the shadow of a shade, the fact that God is near. The earth sweeps her majestic course around the sun, though all the priests of Rome deny the fact of her motion. God is — I. LOCALLY NEAR (Jeremiah 23:24). An absolute existent has no relation to time or place. No metaphysics can explain, no finite thought comprehend, how He can be equally present in all places at the same time; but the denial of it involves philosophical contradictions, undeifies God, and contravenes the plainest and the sublimest teachings of inspiration. Then — 1. All men should live under a constant impression of His presence. 2. All attempts at secrecy in sin are to the last degree futile and absurd. 3. Death can effect no local separation of the soul from God. II. RELATIONALLY NEAR. He is the nearest relation we have. He is our Sovereign, overruling all things pertaining to us and our history; our Father, our Creator, who has made every particle of our being; our Proprietor, our Life. We cannot move a muscle, breathe a breath, think a thought, feel an emotion, without Him. "In Him we live and move, and have our being." Two truths are inferable from His relational nearness. 1. That the necessity of the Atonement cannot be satisfactorily argued, to thinking minds, on the remote relationship of God as the Governor of man. 2. That the preservation of man's perfect freedom of moral action is very wonderful. Whilst He moves us, we are morally free in moving. The how of this is the problem with which all thoughtful ages have wrestled hard, and to this hour it remains unsolved. I feel that I am free, and no argument can destroy this feeling. III. SYMPATHETICALLY NEAR. How close is the heart of a mother to her babel But we are nearer to the heart of God than the babe to the heart of that mother. "Can a woman forget her sucking child," etc. There are three things that show the nearness of His heart to us. 1. His distinguishing goodness in the creation of our existence. He has given us greater capacities for happiness than He has to any other creatures of which we have any knowledge. Sensuous, intellectual, social, and religious enjoyments are ours. 2. His wonderful forbearance in the preservation of our existence. We are rebels against His government as fallen creatures, yet how He forbears (Hosea 2:8). 3. His infinite mercy in the redemption of our existence. Here is the climax of love. "God so loved the world," etc.Conclusion: It is true that the heart-searching God is thus near us? 1. Then our indifference is more anomalous than the conduct of him who lies down to sleep upon the bosom of a burning volcano. 2. Then how preposterous and wicked is hypocrisy. 3. Then ceremonialists, why be so particular about the rituals, the places, and the times of worship? "God is a Spirit." (D. Thomas, D. D.) Parallel Verses KJV: That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: |
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