We hear a great deal through the news media about crime and violence—crime on the streets, in schools, and even in people's homes. People have been asking such obvious questions as: Where can one go to feel safe? Is there such a place?
Meaningful answers don't come easily or without deep thought. Yet thousands of years ago the Psalmist lent insight into an answer by posing another question. He wrote, addressing God: "Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence? If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there." Ps. 139:7, 8
What does this really mean? Does God, who fills all space, in any way have a part or a place in disasters or violent tragedies? Emphatically not. In no way does He cause them. Nor do they have any place in His omnipresent goodness. Realizing this very fact—that God's presence is an all-good omnipresence—can at any moment provide a rescue for us.
