SEEING GOD FACE TO FACE

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." [1 Corinthians 13:12]

If you were to ask a believer whether or not they would like to see God, it is likely that most would say "yes." While Scripture promises that the pure in heart will see God (Matthew 5 :8), the Apostle Paul makes it clear that such sight cannot come until death or when Jesus' returns, when as believers we enter into His presence.

In his first letter to the Corinthians, Paul writes that the beautific vision, to see God as He is, is promised to Christians when Jesus returns at the end of the age:

"For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known."

[1 Corinthians 13:12]

In Paul's day, a mirror wasn't as we know it. It was formed from polished metal usually tin, bronze or silver, and a reflection was dim at best. Yet Paul says that the dim image reflecting back from polished metal will give way to a face to face encounter. When Jesus comes back we will see Him with our own eyes. On that day our imperfect knowledge will give way to sight: we will know even as we are fully known.

One day, faith will become sight and the promise will be fulfilled. Everything we have believed about Jesus, every promise we have held onto, and every prayer we have whispered, will one day give way to the reality of standing in His presence.

We spend our earthly lives knowing Christ through His Word, experiencing His presence through the Holy Spirit, and trusting in promises we have not yet seen fulfilled. But there is a day coming when the distance between what we believe and what we behold will disappear forever.

Imagine seeing the face of the One who knew us before we were even born. The hands that were pierced for our sins and the eyes of the Saviour who never stopped loving us, even in our darkest moments.

Imagine realising that every sacrifice made for His kingdom, every act of obedience and every difficult season endured in faith, was worth it beyond anything we could have imagined.

Then consider something even more extraordinary. That moment of seeing Jesus will not be the conclusion of our story with Him, it will be the beginning of an eternity in His presence. No more separation caused by sin, no more doubts clouding our understanding, no more death threatening to take away the people we love. Just the fullness of life with the One for whom we were created.

Jesus once said:

“I am going there to prepare a place for you.”

[John 14:2]

One day we will look into the eyes of our Saviour and realise that everything we spent our lives hoping for was only the beginning. What is now quite dim will become crystal clear.

Faith will become sight.

How amazing is that!