Omnipresence

On God’s omnipresence, Tozer says: “Few other truths are taught in the Scriptures with as great clarity…” This only goes to show, as much as I love Tozer, that he is a better student of theology than of Scripture. Scripture does say that God is “near to those who fear Him” and also He is “near to the brokenhearted.” Jesus said to his disciples that he would be “with you even to the end of the age.” So we can be assured that God is with His people who truly love Him and need Him.

Scripture also says that God spirit speaks to the world “concerning sin, righteousness and judgment.” Thus, the Spirit communicates to every person, good or bad, what is true. It also says in Psalm 139, in speaking of God’s complete knowledge, that God can go wherever He wishes, and that nothing is hidden from Him.

However, all this together does not equal the doctrine of omnipresence, which is God’s presence in every place at the same time. Scripture does not teach that. It says that God’s representatives, angels, are in many places, wherever God sends them. God’s Spirit is in His people. And God can see and know all things that happen. But not that God is, like some pantheistic ghost, hovering over every inch of the universe. If so, then I must question the independent sovereignty of God’s creation, which is declared in Psalm 8. If God is, somehow, in all places, then there cannot truly be independence, and there cannot truly be freedom to do as we please.

Nevertheless, if we are seeking God, God is there. If we are repenting, God is there. If we are loving in Jesus’ name, God is there. If we are crying out for help, God is there. If we are downcast in soul, God is there. God may not be in every inch of space, but God is there when we need Him. That’s what’s important