“And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not” (Gen.28:16).”
   Today there are many various religions in our world.  People are serving a variety of different gods other than the God of the Holy Bible.  Millions bow down to worship Buddha, and they believe as  Buddhists that he is God.  And still millions bow their knees every day as Muslims to their “god” Allah.  They are sincere, but they are sincerely mistaken!
  Where is God?  Some curious souls search the global religions trying to find an answer.  Some men study the stars and the universe trying to find God...  There are others who examine the minute details of nature; the plants, the rocks and the animals, trying to find answers.  This is a belief system called Pantheism which declares, “God is not a person but a force of energy, and God is found in everything we see”. 
   In the 1970’s there was an expression being circulated that “God is dead!”  This of course was a lie inspired by Satan.  And because so many different philosophical views are thrown at us concerning God, many people don’t know where He is.  They can’t find Him!
In the Bible text above, God was near to Jacob and yet he did not know it!  I ask you, “Where is God?”

GOD IS IN HISTORY

     Over two thousand  years ago, God the Son died on the cross of Calvary.  Every time we look at a date on the calendar, it testifies to the historical account of Christ.  The time line is pointing us to life on earth before and after Christ.  So this year is “the year of our Lord” 2016 or 2016 AD.  And BC means before Christ No matter what you may think or say, our Lord’s death is a historical fact! 
   The Bible contains a lot of history.  We know God created the world.  He put Adam and Eve in the garden; this too is historical.  We see God’s hand of judgment when He destroyed the world by flood, but saved Noah in the ark by grace.  We find God in history as we examine the nation of Israel and see His hand of blessing upon them.  Almost everyone knows the history of Jesus Christ.  We know He fed the multitudes, He healed the lame, He walked on water, He cleansed the lepers, He raised the dead, He calmed the troubled seas...  these are all historical facts.  Unfortunately, too many people find God only in history! 

GOD IS IN HEARTS

   Jesus said, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with Me” (Rev.3:20).  The Holy Spirit comes into the hearts of those that open the door of their hearts to Him.  He doesn’t force His way in like a commando!  No, God politely knocks on our hearts’ door from the time we are old enough to know right from wrong.  The Holy Spirit convicts of sin and shows us our need of God.  But many lock their heart’s, they don’t answer God’s pleas.  God does not move into your heart just because you were born in a Christian home or baptized as an infant.  You must “open the door, and He will come in...” by your invitation.  The apostle Paul put it this way, “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you...” (1 Cor. 6:19).
   When God comes into your heart He changes your life.  The Holy Spirit transforms your heart!  This is the difference between knowing about God historically and actually having Him live in your heart. 
   In Luke chapter 19:1-10, there is the story of a man named Zaccheus.  This man was a rich tax collector that cheated and stole from the people.  “And he sought to see Jesus...” (vs.3), Where is God?  Zacchaeus trusted Christ in his heart for salvation and he was changed in an instant!  He opened the door to his heart and Christ entered in.  Can you imagine the people who knew him when, “Zacchaeus stood, and said unto the Lord; Behold, Lord, the half of my goods I give to the poor; and if I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation, I restore him fourfold” (vs.8). 
He was now a true born-again Christian!  The Bible says, “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new” (2 Cor. 5:17).    Where is God?  God is in the hearts of His born-again believers..

GOD IS IN HEAVEN

Jesus Christ arose bodily to Heaven.  Most of that day openly denied it, declaring it to be absolutely impossible that this earthly flesh can ascend to Heaven.  But Jesus said, “Behold My hands and My feet, that it is I Myself: handle Me, and see; for a spirit hath not flesh and bones, as ye see Me have” (Luke 24:39).  “And when he had spoken these things, while they beheld, He was taken up; and a cloud received Him out of their sight.  And while they looked stedfastly toward Heaven as He went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel...”(Acts 2:9,10).  The Lord arose bodily, and as they watched Him go up into the air, they were actually speaking to Him.
   The Lord Jesus is in Heaven sitting on a throne!  “...We have such an high priest, who is set on the right hand of the throne of the Majesty in the Heavens” (Heb.8:1).  He is our great high priest to whom we confess our sins.  He is the sovereign One who knows what is best for you and I.
   A great man of God was in faithful service far away from home.  Upon his return he learned that his teenage son was killed in an automobile accident.  He cried out to God, “Why?”  “Why God?”  “Where were you God?”  “Why didn’t you protect my son?”  Where were you God?
   And the Holy Spirit spoke to his heart saying, “I was in the same place when my Son Jesus died on the cross...”
   You may be suffering from the loss of a loved one and asking, “Where is God”?  I tell you, He is on His throne in Heaven!
   Perhaps you are suffering from a physical problem and asking, “Where is God”?  I tell you, He is on His throne in Heaven!
   Maybe you tried to raise your children right and now they have gone bad; you’re asking, “Where is God”?  God is omnipresent. I tell you, He is on His throne in Heaven!  God will comfort you and protect you and provide for you, if He is in your heart.
   Remember our text, Jacob said, “Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not”.  God was right there!  In the New Testament we are told, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you.  Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded” (James 4:8).  How is it with you today my friend?  Where is God?  Is He in your heart?  If you don’t know for sure, you should bow your head in prayer, confess to God that you are a sinner, and ask to receive Christ into your heart as your personal Saviour!  “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved”(Romans 10:14).  
   If you do not know how to pray you could say something like this in your own words...  “Dear Lord, I do believe that Jesus Christ died for my sins and that God raised Him from the dead.  I now repent of my sin trusting Jesus and Him alone to save my soul and take me to Heaven some day!  Save me dear Lord, Amen!”

                                                                                                                                                                                  Tom Meador