Nowhere and nothing
Google street view is absolutely amazing. It is fascinating to be able to look at all kinds of places without being there. You can find houses – we’ve checked out all the ones we’ve lived in, places of interest, possible holiday locations. Google streetview is all seeing – as long as the car has been down that road of course!
Jeremiah reminds us that God is everywhere, there is nowhere we can hide that he doesn’t see us.
Now as far as I can see, this is a double-edged sword. It is at the same time both fantastic – and rather scary.
God is everywhere. There is nowhere we can go that he isn’t. Ergo God is always with us. No situation is beyond him. Wherever we go, God is there. Whatever happens to us, God is there. In doctors waiting rooms, in solicitors offices, in job centres, in a war zone, in the food queue – God is there. On mountain tops, in valley bottoms and on the undulating path in between – God is there. In times of joy, success and all going well – God is there. In times of despair, hopelessness and injury – God is there. Nothing is beyond him.
That is so comforting, so encouraging – and also so challenging.
Because if God is always there, he knows exactly what we are doing. He knows when we’re doing the right thing… and he knows when we’re doing the wrong thing.
The challenge of Hebrews is that we are to rid ourselves of the sin that slows us down, that stops us being what and who God has called us to be. We acknowledge that sometimes we get things wrong. We do not live up to God’s holy standards. He knows that, and is still with us and wants us to be with him.
If we are worried by some of the things God might see us doing, perhaps its time to stop them. I have been known to say to my sons, “would your mum be proud of you if she knew you were doing it?”. That can be a sobering thought – I hope! How much more sobering to ask ourselves, “Would God be proud of me if he knew I were doing this?” – because he does. He knows everything we do.
So what should we keep doing, and what should be nailed to the cross, dispensed with? Because God forgives the wrong things, and invites us to start again. We do not need to leave in shame and guilt, afraid that we will be found out. God knows what we do, and still loves us and wants us to be his people. It is not what we have done wrong, but what we’re going to do from here on in.
Jeremiah’s final piece of advice is that those who hear God’s message should proclaim it faithfully.
This is the point where the two meet up. We are called to be God’s presence. So we are his presence in the places that we go. He calls us to go to the places he needs us to be. He sends us where other people need us, to be his arms of love and comfort; to be his ways of love and hope; to be his hands of action and help; to be his voice of challenge and justice.
God is in all those places. Will we join him?
Pam's Perambulation 