A small and trivial deity!

By J. I. Packer

(You will find it helpful to Listen to the Audio, as you read the text below.)

"Does He not see my ways and count my every step?" Job 31:4

"A man's ways are in full view of the Lord, and He examines all his paths." Proverbs 5:21

"The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good." Proverbs 15:3

"My eyes are on all their ways; they are not hidden from Me, nor is their sin concealed from My eyes." Jeremiah 16:17

I can hide my heart, and my past, and my future plans from those around me—but I cannot hide anything from God!

I can talk in a way that deceives my fellow creatures as to what I really am—but nothing I say or do can deceive God. He sees through all my pretense. He knows me as I really am, better indeed than I know myself!

A God whose presence and scrutiny I could evade, would be a small and trivial deity. But the true and living God is great and awesome, just because He is always with me, and His eye is always upon me.

Living becomes an amazing experience, when I realize that I spend every moment of my life in the sight and company of the omniscient, omnipresent, omnipotent, holy God!

"Can anyone hide in secret places so that I cannot see him?
 Do not I fill heaven and earth?" declares the LORD. Jeremiah 23:23-24