Chapter 12—To See His Face

BIBLE GEM

“Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.”—Matthew 5:8CWG 33.1

QUESTION

How may one acquire the purity of heart without which it is impossible to see God?CWG 33.2

ANSWER

By imitating Christ's life: “As God is pure in His sphere, so man is to be pure in his. And he will be pure if Christ is formed within, the hope of glory; for he will imitate Christ's life and reflect His character.”—Gospel Workers, 366CWG 33.3

The Holy Spirit in hearts and homes: “In order to be purified and to remain pure, Seventh-day Adventists must have the Holy Spirit in their hearts and in their homes.”—Testimonies For The Church 9:164CWG 33.4

“If ever there was a time when we needed the working of the Spirit of God upon our hearts and lives, it is now. Let us lay hold of this divine power for strength to live a life of holiness and self-surrender.”—Testimonies For The Church 9:166CWG 33.5

Christ takes control: “As we work in connection with the Great Teacher, the mental faculties are developed. The conscience is under divine guidance. Christ takes the entire being under His control.... New, rich thoughts come to him [the individual]. Light is given to the intellect, determination to the will, sensitiveness to the conscience, purity to the imagination.”—Testimonies For The Church 6:476, AllCWG 33.6

Pure in heart here: “Into the City of God there will enter nothing that defiles. All who are to be dwellers there will here have become pure in heart. In one who is learning of Jesus, there will be manifest a growing distaste for careless manners, unseemly language, and coarse thought. When Christ abides in the heart, there will be purity and refinement of thought and manner.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 24, 25CWG 33.7

Behold Christ: “If we would enter the City of God, and look upon Jesus in His glory, we must become accustomed to beholding Him with the eye of faith here. The words and character of Christ should be often the subject of our thoughts and our conversation; and each day some time should be especially devoted to prayerful meditation upon these sacred themes.”—Messages to Young People, 114CWG 34.1

Grow in His likeness: “Looking unto Jesus we obtain brighter and more distinct views of God, and by beholding we become changed. Goodness, love for our fellowmen, becomes our natural instinct.... Growing into His likeness, we enlarge our capacity for knowing God.”—Christ's Object Lessons, 355CWG 34.2

Live as in the presence of God: “The pure in heart live as in the visible presence of God during the time He apportions them in this world. And they will also see Him face to face in the future immortal state.”—Thoughts From the Mount of Blessing, 27CWG 34.3

“Then we shall see Him face to face”: “We behold the image of God reflected, as in a mirror, in the works of nature and in His dealings with men; but then we shall see Him face to face.”—The Story of Redemption, 432CWG 34.4

SUMMARY AND PRAYER THOUGHT

When self is crucified, dead and buried out of the way, when our vessel is emptied of self, pride, the lust of the flesh and sin, and we repent, then Christ moves in. Christ in you the hope of glory (Colossians 1:27, last paragraph) becomes a reality, yes, Christ within, inside of us, below our skin, Christ formed within, in complete control of our life.CWG 34.5

The result: Conscience reactivated, rich pure thoughts and feelings flood the mind, we'll be determined to do only what is right and honorable, orderliness, cleanliness in life and home will be automatic. God-likeness, compassion and heartfelt love become a natural outflow.CWG 34.6

When the life of Christ reflects from within like a mirror, then we will be like Elder Charles D. Brooks, whose son at his retirement farewell party at General Conference said, “Ml my life I have never heard my father ever raise his voice or yell or lose his temper or slam a door in anger in our house.” This is an example of what happens when we are cleansed, born again, and Christ comes to live inside of us as a permanent resident.CWG 34.7