See God

See God

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Matt. 5:8. The others do not see God even though it is in Him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28. Jesus said, “Behold, I have come . . . to do Your will, O God.” This is what it means to be pure in heart. You are not pure in heart if you harbor any other thoughts in your heart.

God speaks and reveals Himself in various ways and at all times, but people do not see Him, and so they continue to live in sin. Eph. 4:17-19. This was so in Noah’s days, in Lot’s days, in Jesus’ days, and it is so in our days.

When they came and told Jesus about the ones whom Pilate had killed, they saw just Pilate. They did not see God, and Jesus answered: “Do you suppose that these Galileans were worse sinners than all other Galileans, because they suffered such things? I tell you, no; but unless you repent you will all likewise perish.” They didn’t suppose that it was God who had spoken to them. Jesus also took the example of the tower of Siloam, which had fallen and killed eighteen people, and He pointed out that it was God speaking to them. Luke 13:1-5.

In our days God speaks especially through the literal fulfillment of what the prophets have written. This is particularly made evident by the Jews moving back to their land from all over the world, and by what is happening there. Yet people do not see God. We can take an example from Isaiah 60:8 concerning what is happening there: “Who are these who fly like a cloud, and like doves to their roosts?”

If you had read this to an ungodly man one hundred years ago and had said to him, “Will you believe in God if you see the Jews come flying in the air to their land?” There wouldn’t have been too many who would not have said, “Yes.” Today it is so common and natural that only a few can see God in it.

Also just a few from among those who believe in God see God. They do not have a pure heart. They have many earthly interests, and it is not just God’s will they want to do.

“Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time . . . .” 1 Pet. 5:6.

Who sees God’s hand? They would not have murmured if they had seen God’s hand; but they do not see God’s hand. Therefore they are bold enough and insolent enough to murmur, lie, etc.

We read about God’s judgment of mankind after the fall: “To the woman He said: ‘I will greatly multiply your sorrow and your conception; in pain you shall bring forth children; your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you.’ Then to Adam He said, ‘Because you have heeded the voice of your wife, and have eaten from the tree of which I commanded you, saying, “You shall not eat of it”: Cursed is the ground for your sake; in toil you shall eat of it all the days of your life. Both thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you, and you shall eat the herb of the field. In the sweat of your face you shall eat bread till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for dust you are, and to dust you shall return.’” Gen. 3:16-19.

This is God’s hand. The exhortation is to humble yourself under God’s hand. What do people do about humbling themselves under God’s hand? They are not pure in heart; therefore they do not see God’s hand. They protest, murmur, and complain. When we think about women and pregnancy, how many of them live as Paul writes “In faith, love, and holiness, with self-control”? 1 Tim. 2:15.

They resist and complain, and so Satan gains power. People live in a state of protest against “in the sweat of your face you shall eat bread.” The earth will bear both thorns and thistles for you. These are not just thorns in a literal sense. All work is associated with difficulties. There are thorns and thistles in a spiritual and in an earthly sense resulting in anxiety, and so Satan gains power. Yet we read, “Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world.” 1 Pet. 5:7-9.

Does God want to punish us? Not at all! He wants to save us. In these situations we have the opportunity to become sanctified. Here is an opportunity to see our sin and be cleansed. Here is an opportunity to gain the victory. Yet if you do not see God, you do not see these opportunities. Neither do you see God if you do not seek salvation. You want to live according to your lusts, and so your life ends up being one long protest against God’s hand with you for your salvation.

We read about Balaam. He was a great prophet, but because he loved the seer’s reward he did not see God. 2 Pet. 2:15. When the donkey turned aside out of the way, Balaam became angry. He couldn’t even see God when the donkey spoke to him, and he wanted to kill the donkey. He humbled himself only after he saw the Angel with the drawn sword. Num. 22:31. But even then he did not repent, and he was killed together with Balak.

David is an example of someone who had a pure heart. When Shimei cursed David, David saw God. He saw it like this, that the Lord had said, ‘Curse David.’ Who then shall say, ‘Why have you done so?’?” 2 Sam. 16:10.

Who dares to say that? There are many believers who do not see God. They dare to judge, murmur, complain, and be angry. David saw God’s hand and humbled himself. This is what the pure in heart do.