Seeing God

Matthew 5:8
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

David assured us that this verse was well worth several weeks of study. Matthew 5:8 is the core of the message the Church of the Nazarene communicates. The heart, the center of our will and motives and personality and thoughts, is to be pure, clean and without sin and with an undivided focus on God and on His kingdom. This purity of heart is a prerequisite to seeing God.

So, what does it mean to "see God"?

1. This can refer to our eternal destiny. When we die, we will go to heaven and "see God" there.
2. This can refer to recognizing God at work in the world today. We can "see God" in events around us.
3. This can refer to understanding God's will. We can "see God" as we discern His plan for us.

The class engaged in a bit of speculation. Will we actually see God even in heaven? We all expect to be aware of Him, but will He still be as unseeable as He was for Moses? Maybe we will have different sensory input altogether, rather than continuing with just earth's abilities. The resurrection promise includes a physical body, but it should be more than just what we are now. We have to admit that we don't really know much about this.

In the New Testament, there were several words available for the word "see." When recalling what Jesus said, Matthew could have used BLEPO or HORAO. BLEPO would have described eye function: The pure in heart will have eyes that detect God. Instead, he used HORAO: The pure in heart will be able to perceive God. This HORAO involves the concept of an "Aha!" moment.

When people HORAO, they understand each other's lives. Purity is the lens through which we understand or relate to God, building the relationship.

Seeing in this sense has to do with clear access to God. Absence of purity creates a dividing wall in our relationship. We still have access to God, but it is harder to recognize Him. There is an impediment to the close relationship He wants us to have with Him.

In the human realm, perhaps this is like a relationship between a parent and a child. Both sides can put up roadblocks. In a relationship with God, we think that only one side would put up such a roadblock. However, there is a warning in Romans 1:28. When people refuse the offer of God's relationship, He does let them have their own way. He "gave them over to a depraved mind." Our sinful actions have consequences, and result in distance from God.

We discussed how God offers access to those who have not heard of Jesus. Is there any opportunity for those people to come to God? The same passage that mentioned "depraved mind" also stressed that God reveals Himself in some way to each individual. The grace of God does touch each person. The Bible itself is written to those who have heard of Jesus; it barely mentions what God offers to other people. Those of us who know God are held to a higher standard (and those who are teachers even more so!).

Isaiah 6:1-7 and Hebrews 12:14 are passages showing that holiness qualifies us to see God, to perceive His plans and actions. This holiness includes ethical purity, keeping our own lives free from rebellion. Another dimension of holiness is "works of mercy," mentioned in Micah 6:8; our holiness needs to bless those around us. And Jesus, in Matthew 5-7, really stressed that holiness has to include the motivations and intentions of the heart, not just outward actions.

In order to live as God calls us and as we really want,

• we need the empowerment of God's Spirit.
• We need a clean, undivided heart.

Holiness gives us clear access to God, with joy in His presence.