Where is God?

A friend of mine was telling me recently that while at the dinner table, his son asked him, "Dad, where is God?" And before he could answer, Grandpa piped up as he pointed at the ceiling, "He's up there." My friend gently clarified his own father's statement by replying, "He's everywhere, son."

As my friend finished up his anecdote, he asked me, "So if God is everywhere, is He in hell? Because people have always said that what makes hell so awful is the lack of God's presence."

My answer to him was that if we grant that there is indeed a hell, God is most certainly present there. In fact, that's what makes it hell. And why is it eternal? Because God is eternal, of course. We have for far too long imagined a hell where God has put Satan in charge, and he gets to do as he pleases in his infernal kingdom. We hear echoes of Milton's Satan claiming "Tis better to reign in Hell than to serve in Heaven."

But this is not biblical at all. God is eternal, and He is everywhere. The Holiness whose response to obedience-in-faith is love, is the same Holiness whose response to rebellion and sin is wrath.

A friend of mine once made this analogy regarding the wrath of God: When we sit around a campfire on a cool evening, we are warmed and comforted by its power. But if we were to stand over its flames, the very same fire which comforted us would burn our flesh and consume us. The nature of the fire never changed, but our actions in relation to that fire assuredly changed the consequences that befell us.

I'm also reminded of that Great Lion of the Chronicles of Narnia. There were those who shuddered and cringed, and were filled with terror and hatred at the very sound of the name "Aslan." And yet, there were those who were filled with joy and comfort and strength at the mention of the very same name. What was bitterness and fury to one, was sweeter than honey to another- and yet it was the very same Lion.

What think ye?