A Simple Explanation of God’s Nearness and Greatness
God’s Presence: What Does It Mean?
God’s presence among people means that God is not far away, but is involved with our lives. To really understand what this means, think about two important parts. One is God’s greatness, which we call “transcendence”. The other is the special way we can know and experience God, which we call “the mystical element”.
God’s Transcendence: God Is Greater Than Everything
First, God is different from everything and everyone. God has no beginning and no end. God made everything—things we can see and things we can’t see. This means God is above time, space, matter, and all the rules of our world.
Sometimes, people use the word “transcendental” to describe this idea. It means that God is not just a part of the world, but is above and beyond it. While we live in a world where things change, start, and end, God never changes. He never started and will never end. God is the one who made all things, from the farthest star to the tiniest thing on earth.
The Bible teaches this in many places. For example, the book of Colossians (1:16) mentions that God created all things in heaven and on earth. This includes things visible and invisible. This means God made everything—whether we can see it or not.
If someone tries to take away this important truth—that God is above everything—they remove the heart of Christianity. It’s like pulling a thread from a sweater; if you keep pulling, the whole sweater falls apart. In the same way, the belief that God is above all is essential to Christian faith.
Some people, like certain scientists or thinkers called “materialists,” don’t believe in anything they can’t see or touch. Others, pick and choose which parts of the Bible they want to believe. But Christianity teaches that we should not deny what the Bible says about God. Instead, we should focus on affirming and believing it.
The Mystical Part: We Can Know God Personally
The second big idea is that God is so great and above everything. Despite this greatness, we can still know God in a very real and personal way. This is what is meant by the “mystical element.” It doesn’t mean strange or magical things—it simply means that God wants us to know and experience Him.
Christianity teaches that we can come close to God. We can “enter the holy of holies” which is the most special place in God’s presence. We can meet God in our hearts. We can feel, sense, and know that God is real. This is not just about having rules or beliefs; it is about having a relationship with God. The Christian faith says that God is not a far-away idea. Instead, God is a real presence we can know through Jesus Christ.
If we take away this idea that God can be personally known, Christianity loses its wonder and power. It would just become a set of teachings or ideas, not a living relationship with God. The heart of Christianity is that we can know God, and God wants to know us.
Earth Is a Shadow of Heaven
Another important thought is that the world we live in is like a shadow of heaven. In other words, the good things we see on earth are reflections of a greater reality in heaven. Of course, there are things on earth that are not in heaven—especially sin. Sin is everything that is wrong, sick, or broken in the world. Sin doesn’t come from heaven; it is like a disease that will one day be completely wiped away by God.
But the beauty, order, and goodness of the world are like the rays of heaven shining down. Earth is made to mirror heaven, and everything good points back to God.
The Connection Between Heaven and Earth
The Bible starts with the words, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth” (Genesis 1:1). This tells us that God made the whole universe. He did not make it to be in conflict with itself. Heaven and earth were meant to work together, in harmony.
When Jesus came to earth, He showed that heaven and earth are connected. He was at home on earth just as He was in heaven. He was God who came to live as a human. This is called the “incarnation”—God becoming human in Jesus. The Bible says that people were made in God’s image. Thus, it was natural for God to become human and live among people.
Some people think that heaven is far away and that earth is separated from God. But the Bible says that, except for the presence of sin, heaven and earth are united. Sin is like a sickness that separates us from God. Through Jesus, God is working to bring heaven and earth back together.
Jesus Walked Among Us
When Jesus was on earth, He talked about everyday things like birds, flowers, and the weather. He taught that these ordinary things could teach us about God. For example, when Jesus talked about lilies, He said that these flowers are beautiful because God made them. They do not have to worry or work for their beauty. In the same way, people can trust God to care for them.
Jesus showed that things on earth, like nature and life, are reminders of God’s laws and God’s care. He used simple things to show deep truths about God’s presence and goodness.
We Can Live in God’s Presence
Christians believe that, just as Jesus was at home in heaven and on earth, people who know God can also experience God’s presence here. They can do so now. You do not have to wait until you die to know God. You can know God in your heart. This happens through faith in Jesus Christ.
The Bible says, “You are in God and God is in you.” This means that God is with us every day, guiding us, loving us, and helping us. When we believe this, we can feel “at home” in the world and with God, just as Jesus did.
Creation Shows God’s Greatness
When we look at nature—the stars, the sky, the earth—we see signs of God’s greatness. The stars are too many to count. The universe is so big. It makes us realize how small we are. King David in the Bible was amazed by this. He looked at the sky and asked God, “What is man, that you are mindful of him?” (Psalm 8:3-4). In other words, he wondered why such a great God would care about people.
But God does care. The same God who made the galaxies cares about each person. The Bible and the world around us both show God’s signature—they both tell us that God is real and present.
What Does This Mean for Us?
To sum up, the nature of God’s presence among people is both awesome and close. God is above all things, greater than anything we can imagine. Yet God also wants us to know Him personally, to walk with Him, and to experience His love.
God’s presence is not just an idea—it is something that can be experienced and known. The beauty and order of the world are reminders that God is with us. Through faith in Jesus, we can live in God’s presence every day.
We have the heart of what the Christian faith teaches if we remember these two things. They are God’s greatness and the possibility of knowing God personally. It is about God’s presence among us. Let us be open to God, seek to know Him, and trust that He is always near.
For reflection:
- How have you experienced God’s presence in your own life, either in moments of awe or in quiet nearness?
- In what ways does the beauty and order of creation remind you of God’s greatness?
- Are there everyday moments when you sense God’s love or guidance? How can you become more aware of these?
- What steps can you take this week to seek God more intentionally and open your heart to His presence?
In summary, the central message is that God’s presence is not remote or detached, but actively engaged with our lives. Grasping this involves holding together two vital truths. One is God’s transcendence, the profound greatness that sets God apart. The other is the mystical element, the invitation to genuinely know and experience God personally. Remembering these core ideas helps us appreciate the majesty of God. They remind us of God’s nearness. They encourage us to seek a deeper relationship with the Divine in our everyday experiences.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 