In the great commission recorded in Matthew Jesus ended this by saying, “and lo, I am with you always…” I realize he has just commissioned his apostles to teach, baptize and to teach some more when he says this, but isn’t this true of all our lives? There are times that our thoughts are with someone when we are not together. It may be because they are ill or going through a difficult time. Most of us have family that are in different places. Our thoughts are with them and hopefully theirs with us. We are not there in person. If I read this passage correctly I find that Jesus is with me always. It’s not that he thinks of me he is with me. When those times come that I am helping someone with a problem, Jesus is there. When I am struggling with my faith, Jesus is there. When I am being mistreated by others, he is there. When I don’t know what the future will hold, he is there. When the struggles of life begin to engulf me, he is there. There is never a time when Jesus will not be with us. Of course, this can be a scary thing. Well, Doug, why do you say that? Because when I am not doing as I should Jesus is there also. When I am having impure thoughts, Jesus is there. When I speak badly of my brother or sister, he is there. When I cuss and spit out vile words, he is there. When I get drunk, he is there. As I use drugs, illegally, he is there. There is nothing that is hidden from his eyes. Okay, if he is always present each day of my life how should I live? I should live my life realizing his presence. When you are at school he is beside you. When you take the test he sees if your eyes wander and if you’re cheating. He hears the words that come forth from your mouth, whether they are pure, wholesome words or words that hurt and destroy. You can’t find a place to hide and practice evil things without our God hearing. Notice Adam and Eve hiding in the garden from God (Genesis 3). Were they able to? No! Neither can you. When you think no one knows the sin you commit, be assured that God does. What a joy it is to be in the presence of our Almighty God. What a joy to know that he walks with me each day of my life. What comfort to know that when I am hurting he is there to help me. And how assuring it is to know that when I have lived my life for him, we’ll be together always.