Blessed are the pure in heart
One of the things Jesus says is, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” (Matt. 5:8).
Seeing God in everyday life
What did Jesus actually mean when he said we would see God? We understand that this description must be interpreted figuratively. Seeing God isn’t about seeing him with the naked eye, but about him being visible to me. In my life, in my daily routine, and in the various situations I find myself in. Life is full of many different challenges, dilemmas, and sometimes painful conflicts. We don’t always understand or have the answer to how to deal with the challenges that arise. If we seek a relationship with God in our daily lives and sincerely strive to follow Jesus, God promises that he will reveal himself to us. Those who are pure in heart will see God. So, the prerequisite is a pure heart.
In 1 John 3:2–3 it says, “… we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.” We can learn from God by seeking him in the various situations we face. When God reveals himself to us through his word, we become like him because we see him as he is. The fact that he is pure makes us want to purify ourselves as well. Because our hope is to become like God.
Whom are the promises in the Sermon on the Mount intended for?
Who can become pure in heart and can see God? You might think that this is something only the most radical Christians can experience. But the Bible contains many stories of people with a rather poor starting point for whom Jesus nevertheless had faith and hope that they would repent and live good lives. For example, he said to the woman who was living in sin, “Go, and from now on sin no more.” Paul is another example. He went from persecuting Christians to becoming a true apostle. For Paul, it required a complete turnaround in which he had to radically change his entire life.
A lifelong project
In 2 Corinthians 4:6–8 it says that God “has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” That is a great hope for all Christians. But seeing God requires that we actively seek him in our daily lives and purify ourselves so that our hearts remain pure. It’s not something that happens overnight; it’s a lifelong journey, during which God reveals himself more and more to me, and I have the opportunity to put into practice what he teaches me through my actions and words, in the circumstances of my life. For many, this requires a complete turnaround, just as it did for Paul.
An open invitation
Jesus invites everyone to live a life in accordance with God’s commandments. No one is in an impossible situation; he has the same hope for everyone! But if we are to see God, the prerequisite is that our hearts must be pure. This requires that we accept guidance and wisdom from God in every situation in life. When we seek God in our daily lives, we receive help in dealing with the trials life presents us with, and we will find that we grow closer to God. We get to know him and receive the strength and wisdom to live a life of discipleship. A life in which the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ shines forth from us.
See the video about Matthew 5:7 here.