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Question: I have been somewhat confused about what is meant by omnipresence in reference to God. The ideas of omnipotence and omniscience are clear enough, but omnipresence is somewhat perplexing for me.

There are many scriptures which allude to the omnipresence of God. Here are a few examples:

Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy 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. (Psalms 139:7-10)(KJV)

But will God indeed dwell on the earth? behold, the heaven and heaven of heavens cannot contain thee; how much less this house that I have builded? (I King 8:27)(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: For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. (Acts 17:27-28)(KJV)

Here is why I think I am confused. If God is omnipresent, would it not then follow that nothing is separate in fact from God, since God's presence is everywhere? I can't seem to get my head around the idea that anything (including what I am, or believe myself to be), can be separate in fact from God and yet believe in the omnipresence of God.

Or to put it another way: Is separation from God real or is my belief of being separate and individual delusionary?

I would appreciate any clarifications that will help me deal with this as it is resulting in some schisms in my beliefs, due to apparent contradiction.

Answer: The fact of God's omnipotence, omniscience and omnipresence are clear enough when taken by what they simply mean by definition and nothing further. Omnipotence simply means all powerful. Omniscience simply means all knowing. And Omnipresent simply means everywhere present.

It is no more delusionary to think of yourself as being distinct from God in His being everywhere present than it is to accept yourself as being infinitely inferior to Him in His power and knowledge. His being present everywhere does not constitute Him physically being a part of every tangible thing. It is gross error to believe that God is in all matter. The Bible clearly teaches that God is a Spirit. To attempt to confine Him to physical bodies or inanimate objects is simply improper and unacceptable to interpretation of Scripture and sound doctrine. The fact of Him being a Spirit allows for no limitations in His presence.

I would illustrate it in this way (although physical analogies can never fully define God):

Consider a fish aquarium filled with water. Inside this aquarium are rocks, plants, fliters, and a variety of species of fish. The water in this aquarium could be considered "everywhere present" in that it fills every nook and cranny of that aquarium. Though the auqarium is filled with the water, the rocks, the plants, the fish and everything else inside IS NOT a part of the water. So, God's presence fills the earth and all of creation. However, God is not in the trees or the rocks or the moon. Man is distinct from God. He is everywhere present, but He is not in all things making all matter Divine.

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