HORIZONS

Job says that God “drew a circular horizon on the face of the waters” Job 26:10a. From the viewer’s perspective horizons always remain distant. A ship on an ocean is simply a point at the centre of a circle. If you were to sail towards the horizon it would always remain at the same distance from you. Thus like beauty, horizons are in the eye of the beholder. Job also says that God “hangs the earth on nothing” Job 26:7b. Therefore, when earth is the centre of the circle outer space always remains on the horizon. Isaiah says that God “sits above the circle [or sphere] of the earth” Isaiah 40:22a. Therefore, God is beyond the horizon. However, James says “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you” James 4:8a. How are we as individuals and how is earth as a planet supposed to draw near to God if He remains beyond the horizon? Well, it is possible because of the nature of God.

Omnipresence is one of the Triune God’s incommunicable attributes. Therefore, it is hard to communicate or demonstrate what this means! Looking horizontally out to sea or up at the sky from a ship’s deck during a clear day might illustrate something of this. Horizons are all around you. They are everywhere (i.e., omni-present) as far as your eye can see. As the ship sails towards the horizon and as the earth ‘sails’ through space the horizon remains equidistant to you the viewer. However, the difference between the Omnipresent God and the horizon is that God is a Person and is therefore personal. Actually He is three Persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, who are one God. This means that God can be present at the centre of the circle and be on the horizon at the same time! As Jesus was being baptised the Father was in Heaven and the Spirit, like a dove, was descending on Him as He stood on earth, yet God was still everywhere at once. (Luke 3:21-22). Omnipresence may be described as everywhere-at-onceness!

It was the Person of the Son who clothed Himself in human garb, i.e., ‘the Word became flesh and dwelt among us’ John 1:14. After His resurrection, with His humanity fully intact, He ascended back to where He was before as God. (John 3:13; Ephesians 4:9-10). From there He and the Father sent the Spirit to dwell among us and in us. (John 15:26; 16:7; Romans 8:11). Thus, if you are trying to draw near to the Triune God not only is He on your horizon but He is also with you at the centre of the circle! This is why Christopher Columbus could say in his diary after his sailing-trip discovery of the New World, ‘It was the Lord who put it into my mind … I could feel His hand upon me … There is no question the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit because He comforted me with rays of marvellous illumination from the Scriptures … No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Saviour if it is just and if the intention is purely for His holy service. The Gospel must still be preached to so many lands in such a short time. This is what convinces me.’

You and I might not be Columbus discovering the New World, but, if, like him, you are looking unto Jesus then you are no longer adrift at sea with the horizon remaining ever distant. Christ is with you and never will He leave you or forsake you as you sail towards the New Heavens and New Earth. (Psalm 23:4; Hebrews 13:5; Revelation 21:1).