The Locatedness of God

Where is God? Ask Adam and Eve before the fall and they will tell you, “He walks through the garden.” Ask Abraham and he will tell you, “God is at the altar I erected.” Ask Moses and he will tell you, “He is in the burning bush. He is in the pillars of fire and cloud. He is on Mount Sinai. He is in the tabernacle.” Ask Joshua and he will tell you, “He is in the Ark of the Covenant that leads the army around the walls of Jericho.” Ask the people of God living in the Promised Land and they will tell you, “He is in the temple.” The exiles would tell you, “God is absent.” But the returning exiles again would tell you, “God again is in the temple.”

Then Jesus arrives. And the answer to the question of where God is literally follows the feet of Jesus. God is in the manger. He is at the temple. He is at the wedding at Cana. God is at the well with the woman. He is in the midst of the tax collectors and prostitutes. He is touching the blind man. God is kissed by the Betrayer Judas. He stands before Pontius Pilate. He is under the cross. God is lifted up upon it. He is in the tomb. He is found in Galilee alive. He is on the clouds to heaven.

And then what? Is God now just trapped in heaven? Does humanity no longer have a place to interact with him, to receive the grace and mercy he earned for us at the cross? Are we just to stare up into the vast sky and think he is somewhere out there? Are we to be satisfied with the vague idea that he is everywhere? While certainly God is everywhere in the sense that he see the whole earth, truth is, God has always dealt with his creation by placing himself in particular places where his people can meet with him and receive his gifts. Yes the Scriptures reveal over and over again what we might call the locatedness of God. Yes he locates himself in particular places in order that we might receive his blessings.

So where is God now that we might seek his blessing? Jesus said “Whoever feeds on my flesh and drinks my blood abides in me, and I in him.” Yes, if we want to be with God, Jesus tells us that we must feed on his flesh and drink his blood. And while those that first heard these words thought them quite strange and perhaps a touch grotesque, you and I have heard other words that complete the thought.  We have watched in our minds as Jesus holds up unleavened bread and says, “This is my body.” We have seen him lift up the cup of blessing and say, “This is my blood.” And with that image, it all comes together. It we wish to abide with God and for him to abide with us, we must come to the table of the Lord where his body and blood are offered to us.

Where is God? He is in the meal we call Holy Communion. He is on the altar each time is it celebrated. He is in the bread, with and under the wine.  Jesus bids us to “Take eat. Take drink.” He assures us that if we wish to find him, we should look no further. Come to the table and you will find God. Yes he has located himself there in that meal for you. He comes there to you in the name of the Lord. He is present there just like he was present in the tabernacle and the temple for the people of old.  Lo, there he is with us always, even to the end of the age. For on that day, this meal which offers to us momentary communion with God will give way to the feast which delivers eternal communion with him.  For now, we go where God has located himself, to the table of our Lord.