When you think of heaven, what’s the first thing that comes to mind? Do you imagine it’s golden streets, ever-fruitful trees, and crystal rivers? Are you most looking forward to being reunited with loved ones or experiencing no more death, sin, or suffering? The Bible tells us we can expect these things in our heavenly homeland.
But, as incomprehensible as these glorious realities are, they are not the main attraction of heaven. Heaven is heaven because it is where God’s presence dwells—and where we will forever be with the Lord. John concludes the book of Revelation with a glorious proclamation that God’s presence, his dwelling place, will forever be with his people. “And I heard a loud voice from God’s throne saying, ‘Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God’” (Rev. 21: 3).
Enjoying his presence has always been God’s desire for his people. He walked with Adam and Eve in the cool of the day, and he desires to walk with you, too. This is no small thing, for, to be in his presence is to experience the fullness of joy (Ps. 16:11).
The good news is you don’t have to wait for heaven to experience God’s presence today. You can experience it every day by walking in obedience to his will and spending time with him in his Word and in prayer. These are the means of grace he’s given to share his presence with us. What else does God’s Word say about his presence? Here are 20 verses to start your study.
20 Bible Verses About the Presence of God
- Exodus 25:8 (ESV)
And let them make me a sanctuary, that I may dwell in their midst. - Exodus 33:14 (ESV)
And he said, “My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.” - Exodus 40:34 (ESV)
Then the cloud covered the tent of meeting, and the glory of the Lord filled the tabernacle. - Leviticus 26:11–12 (ESV)
“I will make my dwelling among you… And I will walk among you and will be your God, and you shall be my people.” - Joshua 1:9 (ESV)
Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” - Judges 5:5 (ESV)
The mountains quaked before the Lord, even Sinai before the Lord, the God of Israel. - Psalm 16:11 (ESV)
You make known to me the path of life, in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore. - Psalm 23:1–6 (ESV)
A Psalm of David. The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. - Psalm 27:4 (ESV)
One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. - Psalm 97:5 (ESV)
The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. - Psalm 140:13 (ESV)
Surely the righteous shall give thanks to your name; the upright shall dwell in your presence. - Psalm 145:18 (ESV)
The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth. - Isaiah 63:9 (ESV)
In all their affliction he was afflicted, and the angel of his presence saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old. - Isaiah 64:1–3 (ESV)
Oh that you would rend the heavens and come down, that the mountains might quake at your presence, as when fire kindles brushwood and the fire causes water to boil, to make your name known to your adversaries and that the nations might tremble at your presence. When you did awesome things that we did not look for, you came down; the mountains quaked at your presence. - Zephaniah 3:17 (ESV)
The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. - Matthew 18:20 (ESV)
For where two or three are gathered in my name, there am I among them.” - Matthew 28:20 (ESV)
Teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” - John 14:23 (ESV)
Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.” - Acts 17:27 (ESV)
That they should seek God, and perhaps feel their way toward him and find him. Yet he is actually not far from each one of us, - Revelation 3:20 (ESV)
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me.
Paradise Lost and Found
From the Garden of Eden to the New Jerusalem, the Bible is one big story of God seeking to restore what was lost and be with his people. Paradise lost, will be paradise found, but in the middle, we see the key that unlocks our access to the presence of God.
John summarizes the whole story this way: “In the beginning was the Word…and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1,14).
Jesus came and dwelt with us. He literally set up his tent and tabernacled with us, so that you and I could be with him forever. We see glimpses of his glory now, but someday, when we’re with the Lord forever in his presence, we’ll see it in full.
Marantha, King Jesus!
Cara
Related Posts
- 20 Verses About Spending Time with God
- The Window of Your Heart: How You Approach God’s Word
- 20 Verses to Start Your Day
- God With Us on the Escalator
P.S. Enjoying God’s presence is the theme of my upcoming book, The Pursuit of Holy Leisure: Enjoying God in Everyday Places (releasing 3.17.26 and available for pre-order). If you can’t wait until then, I invite you to read the intro chapter for free. Grab it below.