Seeing God (Devotional Day 17)
“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. (Matt. 5:8)
Soren Kierkegaard, a 19th century writer, philosopher, and theologian, wrote a book called Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing. That’s an excellent way to sum up everything we’ve learned in the past few readings, assuming that the one thing a person wills to do is to glorify God and do His will in every situation, especially in their thought life and attitudes, in their marriage and other actions of the will, and in the vows they make and the words they articulate.
Those who live in such a state of purity of heart, those who are single-minded and pure in their purpose of pleasing God, will receive the blessing that Jesus promised – they will see God. There are no “ifs, ands, or buts,” about it; those who are pure in heart will see God. Jesus said it; we believe it; it will happen. Count on it.
But what exactly does it mean when Jesus says “for they will see God”? Is it a literal viewing of God with our physical eyes, with an outcome similar to that of the Israelites who looked into the Ark of the Covenant and fell down dead? Or is it that we will see God with our spiritual eyes, recognizing Him at work in the hearts of His people and in the world around us? Or finally, when we talk about seeing God, are we talking about seeing Him in the same way we go to see a doctor? Are we talking about just seeing Him from an objective distance or are we instead referring to seeing Him by going into His presence to meet and converse with Him?
The answers to each of these questions has a “now” and a “not yet” component to them. In other words, in this age, in the here-and-now, we see “through a glass darkly” but in the age to come, after Christ comes again, we will see Him as He is.
For example, in this age people don’t see God with their physical eyes, but in the age to come we will. In this age, we use our spiritual eyes to see God at work all around us, but in the age to come we will have far more understanding and insight. And while we enjoy fellowship with Him through worship and the Word and an intimate prayer life, it is only a foretaste of what is to come when Jesus welcomes us into His Father’s house.
For now, though, we must “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” We are in the same condition as the Ephesians, for whom Paul prayed that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
As the eyes of our heart are opened, as we get to know God better and walk more in step with Him in purity of heart, a wonderful thing happens. We begin to see Him more and more. We see Him moving in a person’s life. We see His will being done in a situation. We see how His Word fits in a certain situation and are able to give wise Biblical counsel. We become more and more like Jesus, who only did what He saw the Father doing.
As fantastic as this sounds – that in the age to come we will literally see God but for now we see Him with our spiritual eyes – there is still an even greater truth. For if you think about it, we often use the word “see” to describe coming into someone’s presence and having a face-to-face meeting and conversation with someone. In everyday use, we make an appointment to “see” the doctor. We don’t intend to wave at the doctor from a distance; we want to be in his presence and interact with him. So when Jesus says that we will see God, could it be that we will not only see God from a distance but see Him face-to-face and ask Him all those questions that have nagged us for years? Could it be that we could really know the Creator and Lord of the universe?
When we think about seeing God in this way, it has wonderful implications for our devotional life. It means that as we are pure in heart – 100% clean by the blood of Christ and sold out in our devotion to Him – we will see God, be admitted into His presence, experience nearness to Him in worship and prayer. As we seek Him, we will find Him. When we talk to Him, we’ll hear back from Him. After we pray, we’ll see answers come to pass.
When we are pure in heart and spend time each day in God’s presence, we will see God. Our devotional lives won’t be dry exercises but will instead be dynamic encounters with the Living God.
Let’s enter into the Lord’s presence now, asking the Lord to open our eyes as we strive to live in purity of heart: Lord, you know my heart is to live in purity of heart, with unmixed devotion to you and to your will in my life. You have promised that the pure in heart will see God, and I ask that you would open the eyes of my heart more and more each day, so that I can see you moving and working in my life and in the lives of those around me…continue praying as the Spirit leads…
For further study and meditation:
Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. John 5:19-21 NIV
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor 4:16-18 NIV
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2 NIV
For further study: Click on the link below to find more resources.
Soren Kierkegaard, a 19th century writer, philosopher, and theologian, wrote a book called Purity of Heart is to Will One Thing. That’s an excellent way to sum up everything we’ve learned in the past few readings, assuming that the one thing a person wills to do is to glorify God and do His will in every situation, especially in their thought life and attitudes, in their marriage and other actions of the will, and in the vows they make and the words they articulate.
Those who live in such a state of purity of heart, those who are single-minded and pure in their purpose of pleasing God, will receive the blessing that Jesus promised – they will see God. There are no “ifs, ands, or buts,” about it; those who are pure in heart will see God. Jesus said it; we believe it; it will happen. Count on it.
But what exactly does it mean when Jesus says “for they will see God”? Is it a literal viewing of God with our physical eyes, with an outcome similar to that of the Israelites who looked into the Ark of the Covenant and fell down dead? Or is it that we will see God with our spiritual eyes, recognizing Him at work in the hearts of His people and in the world around us? Or finally, when we talk about seeing God, are we talking about seeing Him in the same way we go to see a doctor? Are we talking about just seeing Him from an objective distance or are we instead referring to seeing Him by going into His presence to meet and converse with Him?
The answers to each of these questions has a “now” and a “not yet” component to them. In other words, in this age, in the here-and-now, we see “through a glass darkly” but in the age to come, after Christ comes again, we will see Him as He is.
For example, in this age people don’t see God with their physical eyes, but in the age to come we will. In this age, we use our spiritual eyes to see God at work all around us, but in the age to come we will have far more understanding and insight. And while we enjoy fellowship with Him through worship and the Word and an intimate prayer life, it is only a foretaste of what is to come when Jesus welcomes us into His Father’s house.
For now, though, we must “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen.” We are in the same condition as the Ephesians, for whom Paul prayed that “the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe.”
As the eyes of our heart are opened, as we get to know God better and walk more in step with Him in purity of heart, a wonderful thing happens. We begin to see Him more and more. We see Him moving in a person’s life. We see His will being done in a situation. We see how His Word fits in a certain situation and are able to give wise Biblical counsel. We become more and more like Jesus, who only did what He saw the Father doing.
As fantastic as this sounds – that in the age to come we will literally see God but for now we see Him with our spiritual eyes – there is still an even greater truth. For if you think about it, we often use the word “see” to describe coming into someone’s presence and having a face-to-face meeting and conversation with someone. In everyday use, we make an appointment to “see” the doctor. We don’t intend to wave at the doctor from a distance; we want to be in his presence and interact with him. So when Jesus says that we will see God, could it be that we will not only see God from a distance but see Him face-to-face and ask Him all those questions that have nagged us for years? Could it be that we could really know the Creator and Lord of the universe?
When we think about seeing God in this way, it has wonderful implications for our devotional life. It means that as we are pure in heart – 100% clean by the blood of Christ and sold out in our devotion to Him – we will see God, be admitted into His presence, experience nearness to Him in worship and prayer. As we seek Him, we will find Him. When we talk to Him, we’ll hear back from Him. After we pray, we’ll see answers come to pass.
When we are pure in heart and spend time each day in God’s presence, we will see God. Our devotional lives won’t be dry exercises but will instead be dynamic encounters with the Living God.
Let’s enter into the Lord’s presence now, asking the Lord to open our eyes as we strive to live in purity of heart: Lord, you know my heart is to live in purity of heart, with unmixed devotion to you and to your will in my life. You have promised that the pure in heart will see God, and I ask that you would open the eyes of my heart more and more each day, so that I can see you moving and working in my life and in the lives of those around me…continue praying as the Spirit leads…
For further study and meditation:
Jesus gave them this answer: "I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does. For the Father loves the Son and shows him all he does. Yes, to your amazement he will show him even greater things than these. John 5:19-21 NIV
Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day. For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal. 2 Cor 4:16-18 NIV
Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Heb 12:2 NIV
For further study: Click on the link below to find more resources.
To be a part of the conversation about the article above, or even if you just want to read what everyone else is saying about it, go to the Settle Quickly Comments Page.To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.To be a part of the conversation about the article above, or even if you just want to read what everyone else is saying about it, go to the Keeping Your Marriage Pure Comments Page. To be a part of the conversation about the article above, or even if you just want to read what everyone else is saying about it, go to the Seeing God Comments Page.To be a part of the conversation about the article above, or even if you just want to read what everyone else is saying about it, go to the Settle Quickly Comments Page.To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.
To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.
This article is Day 17 of the 40 Day Devotional; the next devotional is Day 18.
Please use this website for personal devotional use and feel free to share it with friends and family. However, all publishing rights are reserved. No reproduction or publication of this blog is permitted without the permission of the author, Pastor Randy Brockett. To contact Pastor Randy, email him at [email protected].
To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.To leave your comments, helpful hints, and suggestions about this website overall, use the Comments section of Pastor Randy's blog.
This article is Day 17 of the 40 Day Devotional; the next devotional is Day 18.
Please use this website for personal devotional use and feel free to share it with friends and family. However, all publishing rights are reserved. No reproduction or publication of this blog is permitted without the permission of the author, Pastor Randy Brockett. To contact Pastor Randy, email him at [email protected].