p. 10 | THE GREAT SALVATION by George W. Reaser

Pacific Press Publishing Company · Mountain View, Cal. · Nov 21, 1906

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 32, No. 45.

THE GREAT SALVATION

By George W. Reaser

By GEO. W. REASER.

GOD'S OMNIPRESENCE.

"Do not I fill heaven and earth, saith the Lord."

A PLAN of salvation which does not provide a means whereby its author is in infinite touch, at all times, with each individual who seeks its refuge must be a dismal failure. If the plan of salvation under consideration does not supply a resource by which the God of our salvation, can be ever and always on our battle-ground, it is a great delusion.

Not infrequently an army or a detachment of an army has been brought to disaster and gloomy defeat, because the commander-in-chief was not on the battle-field to cheer them on to victory.

The Christian life is an intensely real battle. It is a constant warfare against "principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against wicked spirits in high places," and Satan himself "goes about as a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour."

Does the plan of salvation, of which we speak, have a resource whereby its Author is ever and always on the battle-ground of each and every member of the human family, who seeks its protection?—It does, its Author is ever present.

The faith of some is staggered at the thought of God's omnipresence. They become confused over the fact of His having both a personal presence, and in person dwelling in a definite place, and at the same time being present in all portions of His vast universe, and so they flounder in the meshes of pantheism, not recognizing that while "He dwelleth between the cherubim," He has an Agency—His omnipresence—whereby

He Fills Heaven and Earth.

Thus David speaks to God: "O Lord, Thou hast searched me and known me. Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, Thou understandest my thoughts afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. . . . If I ascend into heaven, Thou art there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, Thou art there." Then, recognizing the Agency by which God is present, taking cognizance of everything, whether in darkness or in the light, he said, "Whither shall I go from Thy Spirit? or whither shall I flee from Thy presence?" Here, then, is the secret of God's omnipresence revealed. He has a Representative whereby it is possible for Him, while in person still seated upon His throne, to fill heaven and earth and to enter the secret recesses of the soul and read the thoughts of every being. He notes even the sparrow's fall.

The plan of salvation has the essential resource to make it effectual, available, and operative in every place; for it is not only possible, but positively assured, that its Author is always present with each individual who by faith places himself within divine protection. In fact, the very existence of subordinate life requires constant connection with the Fountain-head, the Source of life. A momentary severing of this connection would produce instant death, for in Him alone do "we live, and move, and have our being."

In the very beginning of the creation of this world, "the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters." Here we have the evidence of life-current, flowing from the Source of life, to bring light out of darkness, and beauty and order out of chaos.

While the inspired Record employs such emblems as water, wind, oil, and the sap flowing through the plant, to illustrate the Holy Spirit, yet perhaps the best agency that can now be used as an object-lesson of this resource of the plan of salvation is electricity; and doubtless it would thus have been used by the Saviour had electricity been a known agency to the people of Bible days.

The work of creation may be illustrated as follows: Let us suppose that a great ship has been built, and is lying helpless upon the "ways," ready to be launched. The master of ceremonies gives the word, a finger presses a button, a current of electricity is liberated, which starts the sea-monster, weighing perhaps twenty thousand tons, on its first brief voyage into the briny deep. Again, suppose that preparation has been made for a world's exposition. A half score of miles of shafting for operating ten thousand machines is in position, the opening day has arrived, vast throngs are in waiting, everything is ready for the beginning of the exposition, but the machinery is "dead." The electric button is touched, perhaps by a hand a thousand miles away, a Niagara of power is connected, the miles of shafting revolve, ten thousand machines seem thrilled with life, and the people look on in admiration.

The Creator is the great Master of ceremonies, the Director of all the energy in the universe. He speaks, His Spirit puts His living Word into operation, a world springs into existence. He speaks again, it is clothed with life in plant, flower, and tree. Again, and the waters swarm with life, the atmosphere with winged creatures, the land with beings of various form, and last of all—as the crowning work of this creation—man is made in the image of God, and with mind to commune with his Creator. Thus it is that "He spake, and it was done; He commanded, and it stood fast." We are told that by this same Agency "He garnished the heavens," or set those brilliants therein, which illuminate the day and sparkle all the night.