If God is omnipresent, then what is special about being in the presence of God?

If God Is Omnipresent, Then What Is Special About Being in the Presence of God?

A Graduate-Level Lesson in Baptist Theology

The Bible clearly teaches that God is omnipresent. He is not confined to one place at one time, for He exists fully and equally throughout all of creation. As Psalm chapter 139, verses 7 through 10 declares:
"Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? If I ascend into heaven, You are there; if I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea, even there Your hand shall lead me, and Your right hand shall hold me."

This truth is reaffirmed in Acts chapter 17, verses 27 through 28, where the Apostle Paul proclaims:
"So that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us; for in Him we live and move and have our being, as also some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also His offspring.’"

These verses affirm what is classically known as God’s omnipresence—His universal presence across space and time. However, Scripture also speaks of being in God’s presence in ways that go beyond mere proximity. So the question arises: If God is everywhere, what is special about being “in the presence of God”?

1. Omnipresence vs. Manifest Presence

God’s omnipresence means He is present in every part of creation at all times. Yet, the Bible often distinguishes between God’s general presence and what theologians refer to as His manifest presence—His revealed, experienced presence.

Consider Genesis chapter 28, verse 16, after Jacob's dream at Bethel:
"Then Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, 'Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.'"
God was present before Jacob realized it, but at that moment, His manifest presence was made known.

2. Presence as Blessing and Favor

In many passages, “God’s presence” speaks not just of where God is, but of His relational nearness, His favor, and His blessing. The redeemed long for this kind of presence.

Psalm chapter 16, verse 11 says:
"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

Psalm chapter 21, verse 6 affirms:
"For You have made him most blessed forever; You have made him exceedingly glad with Your presence."

To be in God's manifest presence is to be enfolded by His joy, peace, and love. It is a condition of blessing, intimacy, and divine communion that the wicked will never know.

3. Presence as Honor and Proximity to Glory

Scripture sometimes uses “the presence of God” to describe a place of honor, especially for those who serve God closely or witness His actions directly.

Luke chapter 1, verse 19 records the words of the angel Gabriel to Zacharias:
"I am Gabriel, who stands in the presence of God, and was sent to speak to you and bring you these glad tidings."

To “stand in the presence of God” in this sense is to enjoy privileged access and divine commissioning, similar to being invited to stand before a king (Proverbs chapter 22, verse 29: "Do you see a man who excels in his work? He will stand before kings; he will not stand before unknown men.")

Likewise, First Kings chapter 10, verse 8 praises Solomon's court:
"Happy are your men and happy are these your servants, who stand continually before you and hear your wisdom!"
To stand continually before God is a position of delight and reverence.

4. Presence as Terrifying Holiness

There is also a fearful aspect of God's presence when it is manifested in holiness and glory. For sinful man, this presence is overwhelming.

Isaiah chapter 6, verse 2 says:
"Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew."

And in verse 5, Isaiah exclaims:
"Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts."

The presence of God’s holiness exposes human sin, and without the mediation of Christ, man cannot endure it.

First Samuel chapter 6, verse 20 echoes this fear:
"And the men of Beth Shemesh said, 'Who is able to stand before this holy Lord God? And to whom shall it go up from us?'"

5. Presence as Revelation and Covenant

God revealed His presence at unique places and times in redemptive history. The burning bush, the tabernacle, the temple, and Mount Sinai were all places where God chose to make His presence manifest for covenantal purposes.

Exodus chapter 3, verses 4 through 5 recounts:
"So when the Lord saw that he turned aside to look, God called to him from the midst of the bush and said, 'Moses, Moses!' And he said, 'Here I am.' Then He said, 'Do not draw near this place. Take your sandals off your feet, for the place where you stand is holy ground.'"

Exodus chapter 19, verses 17 and 20 record Sinai’s encounter:
"And Moses brought the people out of the camp to meet with God, and they stood at the foot of the mountain."
"Then the Lord came down upon Mount Sinai, on the top of the mountain. And the Lord called Moses to the top of the mountain, and Moses went up."

Psalm chapter 68, verse 8 states:
"The earth shook; the heavens also dropped rain at the presence of God; Sinai itself was moved at the presence of God, the God of Israel."

The manifest presence of God was seen through fire, smoke, earthquakes, and voice, symbolizing covenantal authority and divine holiness.

6. Eternal Joy in God's Presence—or Separation

For the believer, God's presence is eternal joy. For the unrepentant, separation from God's favor is eternal judgment.

Second Thessalonians chapter 1, verse 9 says:
"These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power."

The damned will experience separation from His blessing, though not from His justice. As we’ve seen, God is everywhere, even in hell (cf. Revelation chapter 14, verse 10: "He shall be tormented with fire and brimstone in the presence of the holy angels and in the presence of the Lamb."), but they will be relationally cut off from His love and grace.

Conclusion: God’s Presence Is More Than Location

So, if God is everywhere, what is so special about “being in His presence”? The answer lies in relational proximity, manifestation of His glory, experience of His favor, and alignment with His will. The omnipresence of God is universal; the manifest presence is relational, redemptive, and transformative.

To seek the presence of God is to long for more than spatial nearness—it is to hunger for fellowship, grace, truth, and eternal communion.

As believers, we can be assured by Psalm chapter 46, verse 1:
"God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble."

And we rejoice in Psalm chapter 16, verse 11:
"You will show me the path of life; in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore."

May we never take lightly the wonder of living in the presence of the Lord.