THE GODLY BUBBLE

Ever heard the police say, "Come out with your hands up, you are completely surrounded!"? I never thought I would spiritualize that phrase, BUT the Holy Spirit gave it to me to portray how the Christian is to approach the beginning of each new day - hands up in surrender and praise, acknowledging His presence all around us. I realize more and more as I study the Scriptures, the men and women of God were totally surround by His presence. This is a great thing because as Jesus said, 

• "I am the vine; you are the branches. If a man remains in me and I in him, he will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

In Isaiah 52:12 God's presence is positioned before the believing and stationed as the "rear guard" of the believing.

• for the LORD will go before you, the God of Israel will be your rear guard.

In Psalm 91:7, David speaks about a thousand falling at the Believer's right hand and ten thousand at the Believer's left hand. How can this be unless God's protective presence is on either side of you.

• A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you.

In John 14:26, John uses the Greek word parakletos as the descriptive word for the Holy Spirit who comes alongside of the believer as a counselor, comforter, advocate, and/or representative of the believer to God and God's Word to the believer.

• But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.

In Psalm 119:105, David is talking to the Lord about the Lord's presence beneath him literally and figuratively as he describes God's instruction or "word" as a "lamp" or near-sighted source of light and a "light" for the "path" that is more broad in scope and nature.

• Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Staying in the Psalms, David continues to paint a picture of God's intimate presence in the believer's life, this time God is above us with His protective wings.

• Keep me as the apple of your eye; hide me in the shadow of your wings. (Psalms 17:8)
• Because you are my help, I sing in the shadow of your wings. (Psalms 63:7)
• He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. (Psalm 91:1)

Last, but certainly not least is Paul telling the believer in 1 Corinthians 6:19 that God, by the power of His Holy Spirit, is within the believer also.

• Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;

All this to visualize an image of God's Presence as a air-tight bubble filled with His goodness, mercy, faithfulness, and love - following the believer around wherever he/she goes forever (above, below, in front, in back, left, right, and within).  For me, it brings to light special meaning and emphasis of two points - 1) God never leaving or forsaking His believers and 2) believers taking an active, submissive role in life by living, moving, and having our being - in Him.

• ...God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you." (Hebrews 13:5)
• 'For in him we live and move and have our being.' (Acts 17:28)