The Sermon on the Mount (12)

How blessed are those who are the pure in heart. They are blessed who know about spiritual mourning. They grieve about the indwelling sin, evil desires, pride, unbelief, and coldness of affections. They are not satisfied with the mere form of godliness but desire to live in the true and tender fear of God’s name. The Holy Spirit makes them loathe themselves because of the deceitfulness of their heart, but He also draws them to Christ, the holy Son of God. He renews them after His image, and they become more conformed to the image of Him. There are times that they desire to be delivered from sin, to be cleansed, to be without defilement. That is what the Lord has spoken of in the beatitude, “They shall see God.”

A precious promise

Those who are pure in heart will receive an unspeakable blessing. They shall see God. When will this happen?

a) Already in this life—the Lord speaks to Moses in Exodus 33:23, saying, “And I will take away Mine hand, and thou shalt see My back parts: but My face shall not be seen.” Moses would not see the Lord in His full glory, for no man could see Him and live. He would see something which the Lord revealed to him. We read in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.”

Our present knowledge of God is so imperfect. The apostle says that we see through a glass darkly. That means that we see through a mirror. The ancient mirrors were of imperfectly polished metal, and the reflection which they gave was very obscure. This is true of the knowledge we have of God. When the Lord enlightens His Church by the Holy Spirit, they will see something of His perfections and the glory of His nature, the riches of His grace and goodness as they are displayed in Christ. The apostle speaks of this in John 1:14, “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.” It will never be forgotten when the Lord reveals Christ to a sinner who is in darkness and is experiencing the impossibility from his side to be saved.

When the first disciples were brought to the Lord Jesus after they had heard, “Behold the Lamb of God!” they were given to come and see where He dwelt. They abode with Him that day, and many years later John said, “For it was about the tenth hour.” They saw a door of hope, a way of life opened for them, and unspeakable gladness filled their heart. They who could not be saved anymore saw that there was a Savior who was so suitable and willing to save. When it pleases the Lord to teach sinners more of who He is, then they may sometimes see the King in His beauty. They will say, “Thou art fairer than the children of men,” and “He is altogether lovely.”

There are no words to describe the beauty of this precious Mediator. However, this knowledge is but in part. The Lord reveals Himself in His Word and ordinances. We read in 2 Corinthians 3:18, “But we all with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, (even) as by the Spirit of the Lord.” This knowledge of Him will have a renewing effect. It will bind God’s people closer to Him and give a tender life in the fear of His name. They are afraid that He may withdraw Himself. In His presence is life.

How often, however, we depart from that precious place and bring darkness upon ourselves. To see God gives a delight in His Being and attributes. “It is good for me to draw near to God.” For to see God is to be brought nigh to Him, to be introduced into intimate fellowship with Him. That is where a true believer longs to be. To see God is to enjoy His nearness and love. This will give true satisfaction, humble worship, and a wonderful delight.

They will also see Him:

b) After this life—then they will see Him most perfectly. Here it is through a glass darkly, but when the Lord brings His people home, they will see Him face to face.

Jacob, when he had wrestled with the Lord at Peniel, received a great blessing. “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (Genesis 32:30). Then no clouds of sin will obscure God’s people’s sight. It will be true what we read in Psalm 17:15, “As for me, I will behold Thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with Thy likeness.” No, then they will not have to complain about the hiding of God’s face which was often experienced here below, many times also because of their own sins.

Future glory

The apostle says in 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is.”

• This will be a transcendent sight; it will surpass all earthly glory.

• It will also be a transforming view; we shall be like Him.

• It will be a joyful sight. “Thou hast made known to me the ways of life; Thou shalt make me full of joy with Thy countenance” (Acts 2:28).

• It will be a satisfying sight. There will be no lack, but all the desires of the soul will be fully satisfied.

• It will be an unwearying sight. The more they see Him, the more they will be ravished with desire and delight.

• This view will be beneficial. It will also be everlasting— they will always behold Him. It will be immediate; as soon as they die they will see Him. The thief on the cross was told, “This day shalt thou be with Me in paradise.” With many other words we could attempt to describe what sight this will be, but human words are not sufficient for this.

The unconverted will also see Him. This will be in a frightening vision of God with a flaming sword, not on the mercy seat but in His wrath and anger. Oh, may we learn to flee the wrath to come while it is still the time of grace.

Dear people of God, here you may often complain, “When I go forward I do not see Him, and backward I do not perceive Him.” The time will come that you may see Him who has loved you and drawn you out of nature’s darkness to His marvelous light. What a wonder that will be for those who have learned to know that they deserve that the Lord would depart from them and never come back to them. He is faithful to His Word and promise. Oh, to see Him as He is; what will that be never to sin anymore, never to grieve Him anymore but to give Him all the glory and honor.

(To be continued)

Rev. C. Vogelaar, Clifton, NJ

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