As I began to draft this article regarding the term presence in the New Testament, a news item appeared on my cell phone:

“SISTERS, Ore. – A rodeo bull hopped a fence surrounding an Oregon arena and ran through a concession area into a parking lot, injuring at least three people before wranglers caught up with it, officials said” (Fox13).

This is an excellent illustration of the term presence. If the bull is inside a pen and you are on the outside, that is one thing. Being inside the pen with the bull is another.

When referring to the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ, the emphasis is usually spatial when it should be relational. In the illustration of the bull, the spectator’s relationship to the bull is more important than the physical presence of the bull.

The primary Greek term translated presence, enopion, occurs ninety-four times, frequently of being in the presence of God. When we speak of God as omnipresent, do we think only spatially or do we think relationally?

When Cain killed his brother, he was sent away from God’s presence. He said, “My punishment is too great to bear!” (Gen 4:13b). At the Great White Throne, unbelievers who refused to receive salvation through Christ Jesus, will be in the presence of Jesus as their Judge (Rev. 20:11-12).

All who are born of God do not have to fear the presence of God. But because we are sentient beings, it is easy to be distracted from the cares of the world and neglect our Lord’s presence (relationship) with us.

The problem is that the world is full of shiny objects that attract our attention away from our Lord Jesus Christ. These shiny objects seem closer to us than our Lord. Luke records Jesus’ extended lessons on this subject in chapter sixteen of his gospel account. The Pharisees claimed to be followers of God but instead were trying to serve two masters (16:13-14). Recognizing that Jesus was condemning them, they scoffed and berated Him. His response was:

You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of (enopion) men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of (enopion) God (Luke 16:15).

In these days of negative news and the constant pressure to focus on the things of the world rather than God, we need to practice concentrating on the presence of God and what is important to Him.

Peter, on the day of Pentecost, quoted from the Septuagint translation of Psalm 16. Compare:

(From the Hebrew) I have set the Lord continually before me; Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (Ps 16:8)

(From the Greek Septuagint) “For David says of Him, ‘I was always beholding the Lord in my presence (enopion); For He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. (Acts 2:25)

It takes effort to focus on the presence of God. The effort is worth it.