06 "Blessed are the pure in heart contd
Now concerning this blessed sight of God, it is so sublime and sweet, that I can only draw a dark shadow of it. We shall better understand it—when we come to heaven. At present I shall lay down these
1. Our sight of God in heaven shall be a CLEAR sight. Here we see him ’through a glass darkly’ (1 Corinthians 13:12). But through Christ we shall behold God in a very illustrious manner. God will unveil himself and show forth his glory—so far as the soul is capable to receive. If Adam had not sinned, it is probable that he would never have had such a clear sight of God—as the saints in glory shall have. ’We shall see him as he is’ (1 John 3:2). Now we see him as he is not. There we shall see him ’as he is’ in a very clear manner. ’Then shall I know—even as also I am known’ (1 Corinthians 13:12), that is, ’clearly’. Does not God know us clearly and fully? Then shall the saints know him (according to their capacity) as they are known. As their love to God, so their sight of God—shall be perfect.
2. This sight of God will be a TRANSCENDENT sight. It will surpass in glory. Such glittering beams shall sparkle forth from the Lord Jesus, as shall infinitely amaze and delight the eyes of the beholders! Imagine what a blessed sight it will be, to see Christ wearing the robe of our human nature and to see that nature sitting in glory above the angels. If God is so beautiful here in his ordinances, Word, prayer, sacraments; if there is such excellency in him when we see him by the eye of faith through the telescope of a promise, O what will it be when we shall see him ’face to face’! When Christ was transfigured on the mount, he was full of glory (Matthew 17:2). If his transfiguration was so glorious, what will his exaltation be! What a glorious time will it be when (as it was said of Mordecai) we shall see him in the presence of his Father, ’arrayed in royal apparel, and with a great crown of gold upon his head’ (Esther 8:15). This will be glory beyond hyperbole! If the sun were ten thousand times brighter than it is—it could not so much as shadow out this glory. In the heavenly horizon we behold beauty in its first magnitude and highest elevation. There we shall ’see the king in his glory’ (Isaiah 33:17). All lights are but eclipses, compared with that glorious vision. Apelles’ pencil could but blot it; angels’ tongues could but dishonor it.
3. This sight of God will be a TRANSFORMING sight. ’We shall be like him’ (1 John 3:2). The saints shall be changed into glory. As when the light springs into a dark room, the room may be said to be changed from what it was; the saints shall so see God—as to be changed into his image! (Psalms 17:15). Here on earth, God’s people are blackened and sullied with infirmities—but in heaven they shall be as the dove covered with silver wings. They shall have some rays and beams of God’s glory shining in them. The crystal, by having the sun shine on it, sparkles and looks like the sun. Just so, the saints by beholding the brightness of God’s glory shall have a tincture of that glory upon them. Not that they shall partake of God’s very essence, for as the iron in the fire becomes fire—yet remains iron still, so the saints by beholding the luster of God’s majesty shall be glorious creatures—but yet creatures still.
4. This sight of God will be a JOYFUL sight. ’You shall make me glad with the light of your countenance’ (Acts 2:28). After a sharp winter, how pleasant will it be to see the Sun of Righteousness displaying himself in all his glory! Does faith breed joy? ’Even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy’ (1 Peter 1:8). If the joy of faith is such, what will the joy of vision be! The sight of Christ will amaze the eye with wonder, and ravish the heart with joy. If the face of a friend whom we entirely love so affects us and drives away sorrow—O how cheering will the sight of God be to the saints in heaven! Then indeed it may be said, ’Your heart shall rejoice!’ (John 16:22). There are two things which will make the saints’ vision of God in heaven joyful.
5. This sight of God will be a SATISFYING sight. Cast three worlds into the heart, and they will not fill it—but the sight of God satisfies! ’I shall be satisfied when I awake with your likeness’ (Psalms 17:15). Solomon says ’The eye is never satisfied with seeing’ (Ecclesiastes 1:8). But there the eye will be satisfied with seeing. God, and nothing but God, can satisfy. The saints shall have their heads so full of knowledge, and their hearts so full of joy—that they shall have no lack.
6. This sight of God will be an UNWEARYING sight. Let a man see the rarest sight that is—he will soon be cloyed. When he comes into a garden and sees delightful walks, lovely arbours, pleasant flowers, within a little while he grows weary; but it is not so in heaven. There is no cloying there. We shall never be weary of seeing God, for the divine essence being infinite, there shall be every moment new and fresh delights springing forth from God into the glorified soul! The soul shall be full and satisfied—yet still desire more of God. So sweet will God be—that the more the saints behold God—the more they will be ravished with desire and delight!
7. This sight of God will be a BENEFICIAL sight. It will tend to the bettering and advantaging of the soul. Some colors, while they delight the eyes, hurt them. But this knowledge and vision of God, shall better the soul and tend to its infinite happiness. Eve’s looking upon the tree of knowledge, was harmful to her. But the saints can receive no detriment from the eternal beholding of God’s glory. This sight will be beneficial. The soul will never be in its perfection, until it comes to see God. This will be the crowning blessing.
8. This sight of God shall be PERPETUAL. Here we see objects awhile, and then our eyes grow dim and we need eye-glasses. But the saints shall always behold God. As there shall be no cloud upon God’s face, so the saints shall have no mote in their eye. Their sight shall never grow dim—but they shall be to all eternity looking on God, that beautiful and delightful object! O what a soul-ravishing sight will this be! God must make us able to bear it. We can no more endure a sight of glory—than a sight of wrath. But the saints in heaven, shall have their capacities enlarged, and they shall be made fit to receive the delightful beams of divine glory!
9. This sight of God will be an IMMEDIATE sight. There are some who deny that the soul is immediately after death admitted to the sight of God—but I assert that the saints shall have an immediate transition and passage from death to glory. As soon as death has closed their eyes—they shall see God. If the soul is not immediately after death translated to the beatific vision—then what becomes of the soul in that period of time, until the resurrection? Does the soul go into torment? That cannot be, for the soul of a believer is a member of Christ’s mystical body, and if this soul should go to hell—a member of Christ might be for a time damned. But that is impossible. Does the soul sleep in the body as some drowsily imagine? How then shall we make good sense of that scripture ’We are willing rather to be absent from the body—and to be present with the Lord’? (2 Corinthians 5:8) If the soul at death is absent from the body, then it cannot sleep in the body. Does the soul die? It appears that the soul of a believer after death, goes immediately to God. ’This day shall you be with me in paradise’ (Luke 23:43). That word ’with me’ shows clearly that the thief on the cross was translated to heaven. For there Christ was (Ephesians 4:10). And the word ’this day’ shows that the thief on the cross had an immediate passage from the cross to paradise. Therefore, the souls of believers have an immediate vision of God after death. It is but winking—and they shall see God!
He shall never be admitted to the blessed sight of God. Only the pure in heart shall see God. Such as live in sin, whose souls are dyed black with the filth of hell—they shall never come where God is. They shall have an affrighting vision of God—but not a beatific vision. They shall see the flaming sword and the burning lake—but not the mercy-seat! God in Scripture is sometimes called a ’consuming fire’, sometimes the ’Father of lights’. The wicked shall feel the fire—but not see the light. Impure souls shall be covered with shame and darkness as with a mantle, and shall never see the king’s face. Those who would not see God in his Word and ordinances—shall not see him in his glory. Is there such a blessed privilege after this life? Then let me persuade all who hear me this day:
There are several sorts of eyes which shall never see God—the ignorant eye, the unchaste eye, the scornful eye, the malicious eye, the covetous eye. If you would see God when you die, you must be purified people while you live! ’We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself just as He is pure.’ (1 John 3:2-3).
Let me turn myself to the PURE in heart.
1. Stand amazed at this privilege—that you who are worms crept out of the dust—should be admitted to the blessed sight of God, for all eternity! It was Moses’ prayer, ’I beseech you, show me your glory’ (Exodus 33:18). The saints shall behold God’s glory! The pure in heart shall have the same blessedness that God himself has. For what is the blessedness of God—but the contemplating his own infinite glory and beauty!
2. Begin your sight of God here on earth. Let the eye of your faith be ever upon God. Moses by faith ’saw him who is invisible’ (Hebrews 11:27). Often look upon him with believing eyes—whom you hope to see with glorified eyes. ’My eyes are ever towards the Lord’ (Psalms 25:15). While others are looking towards the earth as if they would fetch all their comforts thence—let us look up to heaven! There is the best sight. The sight of God by faith would let in much joy to the soul. ’You love Him, though you have not seen Him. And though not seeing Him now, you believe in Him and rejoice with inexpressible and glorious joy!’ (1 Peter 1:8).
3. Let this be a cordial, to revive the pure in heart. Be comforted with this—you shall shortly see God! The godly have many sights here on earth, which they do not desire to see. They see a body of death; they see evil and sin; they see unholy people wearing the mask of religion; they see the white devil. These sights occasion sorrow. But there is a blessed sight a-coming! ’They shall see God!’ And in him, are all sparkling beauties and ravishing joys to be found!
4. Do not be discouraged at sufferings. All the hurt that affliction and death can do—is to give you a sight of God. As one said to his fellow-martyr, ’One half-hour in glory, will make us forget all our pain!’ When the sun rises—all the dark shadows of the night flee away. When the pleasant beams of God’s countenance begin to shine upon the soul in heaven—then sorrows and sufferings shall be no more! The dark shadows of the night, shall fly away. The thoughts of this coming beatific vision, should carry a Christian full sail with joy through the waters of affliction! This made Job so willing to embrace death: ’But as for me, I know that my Redeemer lives! And after my body has decayed, yet in my body I will see God! I will see him for myself. Yes, I will see him with my own eyes! I am overwhelmed at the thought!’ (Job 19:25-27).