God is with you everywhere

Editor’s note: This is a reprinted column from Jack Purcell’s “On the Journey” archives. It originally appeared in The Star in 2013.

One of my favorite people to quote is Yogi Berra an famous New York Yankee catcher.

The title was one of many attributed to him. He also said, “If you come to a fork in the road, take it.”

My favorite story about Yogi came during an outdoor gala in New York. The mayor’s wife said to Yogi, “You are looking awfully cool tonight,” to which Yogi replied, “You’re not looking so hot yourself.”

So what does this have to do with our spiritual lives? Well, there is a biblical version of the title, with a twist. “Wherever you go, there He is.”

You may be saying, “Well, of course, God is everywhere.” There is, however, a more compelling and personal reason that must be considered. The reason God is with you everywhere you go is because his life is in you.

The Message translation of Romans 8: 9,11 says, “But if God himself has taken up residence in your life, you can hardly be thinking more of yourself than you are of him.

“When God lives and breathes in you (and he does, as surely as he did in Jesus), you are delivered from the dead life. With his Spirit living in you, your body will be as alive as Christ’s!”

Just think, when you go shopping, he is there. When you go to work, he is there. When you are sick, he is there. You are never without him.

That also means when you are talking behind someone’s back, he is there. When you are gluttonous, he is there. Whether you are praising him or sinning, you always and forever have the Spirit of God living inside you, if you are a disciple of Jesus.

Paul says it this way in Colossians 3:3: “Your old life is dead. Your new life, which is your real life – even though invisible to spectators – is with Christ in God. He is your life.” MSG

The implications here are nearly beyond our understanding. Holy, sinless God chose to come and make himself at home in his children, motivated by his unconditional love. Simply put, if you have spiritual life it has nothing to do with what you have or haven’t done.

It is not a result of your good behavior or moral living. There is only one way to have true, biblical, spiritual life and that because you have invited him to take up residence in you.

“He who has the Son has life; he who does not have the Son of God does not have life.” (1 John 5:12)

Have you ever felt like God has gone off and left you to fend for yourself? Most of us have, and what is important to remember during those times is that you have eternal life and that life is Jesus who indwells you in the person of the Holy Spirit, so your feelings, in this case, are unreliable. Jesus will never leave you or forsake you no matter how you feel.

Christianity based on performance and behavior is not a pleasant place to live. So today, why not thank the Lord for his indwelling presence. And remember-wherever you go, there he is.