To Know God.....

Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God (Matthew 5)

 

Unless you receive the kingdom of God as a little child, you shall not see it.

 

Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God (Jn. 3).

 

 

Who can 'see' God in this life?  Who is it that can receive the kingdom of God in the present time? 

 

Jesus was very clear about the question of "seeing" and "not seeing:"

• Just Father, the world does not know you (Jn. 17:25), but I know you....
• "...in a little while, the world will no longer see me, but you will see me..."
• The Spirit of Truth which the world is not able to receive because it does not see him or know him.  You know him because he dwells within you (Jn. 14: 17).

Who is the "world" that cannot see Jesus or know the Father?  Who is it that does not see or know the Spirit of truth?  Those who are bound to a material and carnal life -- that is, the life of the flesh only.  Those who "see" truth with their eyes and mind only-- the natural man.  The fact of the resurrection means that we are no longer limited to the world of flesh and blood, but now live a life of the Spirit. 

 

The man who cannot open his heart and mind to the Spirit of God, who alone can teach him inner truth, will see only the things of this world.  Jesus died in the flesh in order to become a "new creation," a "second Adam" (2 Cor.) so that all who receive the life He lives now can enjoy His vision of the Father and the life of the Spirit.  He gives His disciples the ability to see and contemplate the Spirit even in this life, without waiting for heaven. 

 

Isaiah says, "He who makes the earth firm and all that is on it gives inspiration to the people on the earth and gives the Spirit to those who walk on it" (42:5).  Purity of heart means that we desire this Gift more than we desire anything else on earth -- more than friends, more than wealth, more than power and influence.  If we desire friendship with God, He gives us His own Spirit that we might communicate with Him "face to face, as a man speaks with his friend," as it was said of Moses.

 

A child has no desire for the things of this world; he desires love only.  He desires that his needs be taken care of in love.  He desires acceptance and joy each day.  To be 'pure in heart' means to desire only one thing.  The Book of Hebrews tells us that in order to please God, "we must first believe that He exists and that He rewards those who seek Him."  The "reward" spoken of here is the "reward" of God's presence -- the very best gift He can give us is the gift of Himself.  And there is nothing else that defines the "kingdom of heaven' except the Presence of God.  In Him is every good thing we can desire.  Ask any child whose parents give him every gift except the gift of themselves, and you will know the truth. 

 

No gift comes to creation except by the Holy Spirit, and if He dwells in us, as Jesus has promised us, what can we expect but that He will bring us the greatest gift of all -- knowledge (intimacy) of the Father and of the Son?  And in this is the kingdom of heaven.