“God knows all that is done in the most secret caverns of the heart. No place is deprived of his presence.” by Stephen Charnock (1628-1680)

Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the Lord. Do I not fill heaven and earth?

Jeremiah 23:24

God knows all that is done in the most secret caverns of the heart. No place is deprived of his presence. Though reason and Scripture declare it, we cannot conceive it. He is not measured by time nor limited by space. He is from the height of the heavens to the bottom of the sea, and in every point of the world. He upholds his creatures by his power, and knows them by his wisdom. There is no space, not the least, where God is not wholly present with his whole substance. How much of this attribute of God is forgotten! We pretend to believe it, but many live as if he were not present. Men commit sin in the presence of God, which they would be ashamed to do before the eyes of men. What does this really say, but that God is not present with us. How terrible should the thought of this attribute be to sinners! How foolish to imagine any hiding place from the incomprehensible God. ‘The eyes of the LORD are in every place, keeping watch on the evil and the good’ (Prov. 15:3). He lies in the depth of our soul, and sees our designs before we have even conceived them. This is a shield against temptation. ‘God is present’, is enough to blunt the weapons of hell. It will secure us from vile attractions, and curb the head-strong principle in out nature that would join hands with temptation. Moses, at the sight of Christ, strengthened himself against the luxuries of a prince’s court (Heb. 11:26-27). ‘God is present’ is a strong encouragement when tempted to eat the forbidden fruit. What man would speak an unhandsome word in the presence of his commander? The eye of the General inflames the spirit of a soldier. What attitude might we have, if we counted God present in our shops, chambers, walks, and in our meetings?1

1 – Stephan Charnock, The Existence & Attributes of God, quoted by Richard Rushing in Voices From The Past: Puritan Devotional Readings, Volume 1 (Carlisle, PA: Banner of Truth, 2009/2017), 248