The longer we live, it seems, the more jaded we become. Think about it. We see disasters such as floods, fires and famine, we see murders and riots and people being generally ugly to one another, we see the political state of wherever we live, it’s difficult not to be. Yet Jesus said “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” How do we reconcile that? I know my heart is not pure, and I do not see God as I should. So what if this is part of the process, then? We become poor in Spirit, we gain the Kingdom of God. We mourn over our unrighteousness, we become comforted. We become meek, we inherit the earth. We are merciful, we are shown mercy. So this, then is the refining process. God purifies our heart, and so we see Him. Let’s consider this statement Jesus makes in light of the process:
Blessed. We are blessed as we are pure of heart. This means we see the world through the Spirit, not through our fleshly, jaded eyes. Our heart MUST be transformed, and we only get transformed as we are made new. For the Christian, this blessing must be something that is sought after. It’s not an automatic, but comes from daily walking with God through prayer and the Word.
…are the pure in heart. This is a daily process. Jesus said that if anyone is to come after Him, he must deny himself, pick up his cross daily and follow Him. Paul tells us not to be conformed to this world but to be transformed by the renewing of our minds that by testing we may know the will of God, what is good and pleasing and perfect, but this comes as we live a life that is a living sacrifice, which is our true, spiritual worship. Holy and pleasing to God (Romans 12:2 and 1, in that order). Being pure of heart is not a natural condition, but comes only as we die to self, and seek God in all things! We don’t see God, unless we seek God! How is your heart? Is it after God, or is it after self?
…for they shall see God. We can’t see God if our heart is not after his. It’s why the law existed in the Old Testament: God’s desire is to walk with His people, and so to do so, without destroying them, they needed to be ritually and spiritually pure. It didn’t work, because they chased after their own desires. Christ came to live for us, die for us, and rise again, conquering death for us that we could be made new and walk in the newness of life and see God. This refining process is our whole lives, and some day, when we shed this weak flesh, we will be able to see Him face to face, and we shall never be parted from Him. For now, however, as we seek God, we will see His hand everywhere, in every circumstance, even those that may lead to imprisonment, torture, death, or abandonment by those we love, if done for His sake. God desires our whole heart. This is the pure heart that allows us to see God. A heart not shared with anyone or anything else, which then becomes a heart overflowing with love, that our love for everyone else becomes a byproduct of our close proximity to God. This is the condition Scripture says God desires, and this is what we all should seek.
Psalm 24
The earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof, the world and those who dwell therein, for he has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the rivers.
Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place? He who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not lift up his soul to what is false and does not swear deceitfully. He will receive blessing from the Lord and righteousness from the God of his salvation. Such is the generation of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah
Lift up your heads, O gates! And be lifted up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle! Lift up your heads, O gates! And lift them up, O ancient doors, that the King of glory may come in. Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory! Selah
