“Blessed [anticipating God’s presence, spiritually mature] are the pure in heart [those with integrity, moral courage, and godly character], for they will see God. Matthew 5:8 AMP
The Context and Focus:
We read again one of the attributes of the people that Jesus defines as blessed. From the verse above, we read of the meaning of the blessing that is ascribed to the class of people considered in the verse above. People who anticipate God's presence do not live careless lives, but are deliberate about their choices, pursuits and priorities. People who look forward to God's presence are careful about the friends they keep, the contents they consume, the words they speak and the lives they live. God is presented on every page of Scripture as a holy God. That is the nature of him that runs through the Bible. Anyone who seeks to see him must come to Him on his own terms and conditions. I cannot seek to do my own thing, and expect God to just rubber stamp it. I cannot pursue my own agenda, and expect that there will be no repercussions. Holiness is the attribute that is non-negotiable for anyone seeking to align with today's verse. Do my current life choices reflect this understanding?
The Message:
Without holiness, no man shall see the Lord. Those are the exact words in the bible. Now, I can choose to debate those clear words, or I can decide to take God at his words, and just simply align. I also note that the heart lies at the centre of all that I do. The verse above lays emphasis on being pure in heart, as that is the place from where all actions proceed. The wisest man who lived in the bible times was Solomon, and one of his wise sayings enjoins us to guard our hearts with all diligence, because out of the heart proceeds both life and death. The prophet Jeremiah also laid it out so clearly when he defined the state of man's heart, stating that the heart of man is deceitful above all things and desperately wicked. Those words are quite sharp and cutting, but they reflect the state of the heart of the natural man. As long as man is under the control and influence of the old man, he stands no chance before the Holy God. The standard has been made clear, and God will not bend his will for any man. He has made known what he wants, and eternity lies at the end of whatever decison I make.
The Conclusion:
However, grace has given access to the blood of Jesus, by which man is saved from the power of sin, and given the power to live a life of holiness and righteousness. The verse above goes further to provide more details of what being pure in heart means, and this includes those with integrity, moral courage and godly character. This shows the mix between the internal and the external. Men must testify to the change in you, which is manifested by the life that flows out of you. The reward for purity must of necessity be that which looks like God, because you cannot live like God in this world, and not end up with Him where He is. The reward for those with pure hearts is that they will see God. This covers both the earthly and the eternal. A man whose life points men to God will definitely see God show up for him down here, and also preserve him until He sees God in glory. Don't settle for that which dies down here; make sure that you lay hold of that which lasts forever. God's time of favour is here.
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