Matthew 1:23 “Behold, the virgin shall be with child, and bear a Son, and they shall call His name Immanuel,” which is translated, “God with us.”

The idea is simple.  The presence of God is here and now with the believer.  Jesus did not suffer and die the way He did so that we would only have hope in one day being in the presence of God.

Jesus secured the presence of God here and now for us in our daily lives.

John 1:16  And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.

I love that the word received is used in the past tense here.  It is not used in a future-on-the-horizon way.  It is put in the past tense, indicating it is done, and the realization of it is now.

This here-and-now reality of His fullness, which is His presence, was made possible when we received favor from God to get the favor of God.

Sometimes, when I listen to someone speak about God, it is as if I am listening to closet deists.  Their language mirrors that of a distant God but will one day show up again and be close.  Any language that comes across as anything other than a God who is present and very involved in the lives of His children is false and full of error.

Jesus secured the closeness, the intense involvement, and the profound privilege of intimacy with God for us forever.  He took away the separation and distance that once existed.

Ephesians 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

We are not brought near by anything that we do.  We were brought near, and we kept near through what Jesus did.  It is by faith that we enter into a relationship with God, and by faith, we remain fully aware of the ongoing relationship with God.

Hebrews 13:5 Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”

Jesus promised never to leave us nor ever to forsake us.  He has bound Himself to us in His love.  He has imparted new life to us; He has committed Himself to be faithful even when we are found to be faithless.

2 Timothy 2:13 If we are faithless,  He remains faithful;  He cannot deny Himself.

Christ in us the hope of glory!  God is with us!  He is presently intentionally, committedly, and faithfully with us!  Once you come to Christ, you can never be alone again.  God is with you!