Seeing God

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
 
JESUS’ teaching here is no surprise. Many scriptures consistently point to the desire and benefit of a pure heart. For example, out of deep sin, David prayed for a pure, redeemed heart: Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:10) The Bible teaches the pure heart is the access point to the king: He who loves a pure heart and whose speech is gracious will have the king for his friend. (Proverbs 22:11) And God’s Word encourages, even admonishes us all to strive for a pure heart. Paul’s last words to Timothy urged him on against evil and for God: Flee the evil desires of youth, and pursue righteousness, faith, love and peace, along with those who call on the Lord out of a pure heart. (2 Timothy 2:22)
   The church, then, is to be a community of pure hearts. That does not mean we need to be sinless to be in a church, but we must consistently work to help one another purify our lives. Together, our desires must be pure as we strive to know God’s holiness. Indeed, a pure heart is synonymous with holiness - God’s perfection. Pureness is without blemish. Our holy, pure Father in heaven is teaching us through the sinless Son and the Holy (Pure) Spirit that we must strive for holy eyes to see his perfection. The Pure God changes us as we are born again. He begins to transform our impure eyes that naturally see people and events from the perspective of our sins. The church is God’s means to re-focus our view, to help all love God and love our neighbors with the eyes of the gospel. We are to gaze upon God in unity, pure from earthly influences that distort our view of God and each other.
   Praise God, then, he has sent his Helper, the Holy Spirit, to fix our focus. The Holy Spirit removes the spiritual dirt that blocks our view of God’s purity. Day by day as we hear, read, study and live the Bible, the Spirit awakens us to God’s holiness and Jesus’ saving truth. The gospel of God is your vision to first glimpse, then to see the love, joy, peace and truth of salvation more fully.
   God is steadfast you open your eyes, so you will see God: Hebrews 12:14 Make every effort to live in peace with all men and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord. Further, the apostle John writes: 1 John 3:2 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. 3 Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. 
   The blessing grows deeper and wider during our life here on earth as the gospel daily clears our vision. Live, my friends, with a desire for a pure heart. Strive to be clean in your thoughts, words and deeds. Worship God with a true desire to repent of your sins and praise his forgiveness. Celebrate your Savior come. And always pray, “Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me.” Live pure in Jesus’ truth through the Spirit’s power.