In the Presence of God

The Bible says that God “dwells in unapproachable light” (1 Tim.

6:16, NRSV), and that “no one has ever seen God” (John 1:18, 1 John

4:12, NRSV). Does it mean that the saints in heaven will never see God

the Father? Not at all. It is quite evident that not seeing God refers to

the human beings after the Fall, because there are several indications in

Scripture that the saints will actually see Him in heaven.

Read Matthew 5:8; 1 John 3:2, 3; and Revelation 22:3, 4. What do

these passages tell us about the supreme privilege of seeing God?

The same apostle John who states that “no one has ever seen God”

(John 1:18, 1 John 4:12, NRSV) also declares that “we shall see Him

as He is” (1 John 3:2, 3, NKJV) and “see His face” (Rev. 22:3, 4,

NKJV). It can be debatable whether these passages refer to God the

Father or to Christ. But all doubts are gone in light of Christ’s own

statement,“ ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God’ ”

(Matt. 5:8, NKJV). What a privilege it will be for the redeemed to wor-

ship God in His temple! But the supreme privilege of all will be to see

His face.

“The people of God are privileged to hold open communion with the

Father and the Son. ‘Now we see through a glass, darkly.’ 1 Corinthians

13:12. 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, without a dimming veil between. We shall stand in

His presence and behold the glory of His countenance.”—Ellen G.

White, The Great Controversy, pp. 676, 677.

Notice in some of the verses for today the link between purity and

seeing God. The “ ‘pure in heart’ ” will see God; he who will see God

“purifies himself, just as He is pure” (1 John 3:3, NKJV). What these

verses reveal is that God must do a work in us now to help prepare us

for heaven.

Though, in the end, our title to heaven has been made certain through

the death of Jesus, we will go through a purifying process here and

now that will help prepare us for our eternal home. And central to the

purification process is obedience to His Word.

Read 1 Peter 1:22. How does this text reveal to us the link

between obedience and purification? What is it about obedience

that purifies us? How, specifically, does Peter say our obedience

will be made manifest?