”Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).
Here’s another verse I’ve frequently read and always understood to mean that the pure in heart will actually get to see God after the resurrection. It is another verse that the Holy Spirit has enlightened me on, leading me to a deeper and more intimate relationship with God.
To “see” is often used with “metaphorical meaning: "to see with the mind" (i.e. spiritually see), i.e. perceive (with inward spiritual perception).”[i] What I believe Jesus is saying here is that those with hearts that desire nothing else but God will know Jesus, closely and intensely. They will be personally in relationship with Him.
Paul took up this idea when he prayed that the eyes of the understanding of his readers may be enlightened:
16 (I) ”do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers: that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of Him, the eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that you may know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints” (Eph. 1:16-18).
God wants us to have hearts that are single-minded towards Him so that He can speak with us “face to face,” just as He did with Moses.
“So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend” (Ex. 33:11).
Moses didn’t actually see God because God is a spirit (John 4:24) and we know that, later in this chapter, God had to cover Moses with His hand while His glory passed by as Moses hid in a crevice in a rock (Ex. 33:22). Speaking “face to face” means they had an especially warm and confidential relationship, as cherished friends do.
This is what God hungers to have with you. He wants you to desire Him like no other so that He can come and sup with you:
“Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me” (Rev. 3:20).
This intimacy that is now available to all who are in Christ Jesus through the presence of the Holy Spirit, was something that the faithful in the Old Testament could only dream about. Listen to how Job phrases it in this prophecy:
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth; 26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! (Job 19:25-27).
There is a special joy and blessing to you in this day and age when you become personally immersed in Jesus. Don’t miss out on this incredible opportunity.
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All quotations are from the NKJV.
[i] https://biblehub.com/greek/3708.htm accessed 10.6.23.