What Does it Mean the Pure in Heart Will See God?
Matthew 5:8
To be able to see God, one should be pure in heart.
Here we have another of Jesus’ “blessed are” statements from his developing rundown of the individuals who should cheer in the manner God sees them. We call this list the Beatitudes. Jesus presently says that the “pure in heart” are honored, for they will see God. This does not mean they will be glad or happy all the time; however, it implies they ought not feel miserable.
Christians of today may relate purity with an independence from moral ethics or sexual immorality. The individuals who previously heard Jesus' words may have associated purity to playing out the law of Moses, or completely observing the guidelines of the Jewish instructors. This would convey the feeling of being totally liberated from transgression.
Jesus zeroed in considerably more on the hearts of his audience members, rather than their capacity to keep up the ceremonies of the law. He lectured against submitting to the law only in actions, instead of out of genuine love for God. Purity in its generally clear and unique importance, alludes to the possibility of something being, brought together, un-blended, or predictable. The pure in heart are centered around something singular, for this situation, that thing is God.
Jesus promised that the individuals who are pure in their commitment to God will see him. This uncovers a surprising thought regarding God's kingdom. Most Jews would have learned at an early age that no one can see God and live; for he is holy. However, Jesus says that the individuals who get into heaven will see God.
1 John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.”
In David’s plea for mercy, he wrote:
Psalm 51:10, “Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right spirit within me.”
Since we are brought into the world as sinners (Psalm 51:5), our regular tendency is to satisfy ourselves as opposed to God. David followed that tendency when he took another man's wife. We likewise follow it when we sin in any capacity. Like David, we should request that God scrub us from the inside (Psalm 51:7), clearing our hearts and spirits to make way for new desires and new thoughts. Proper conduct only comes from having a clean heart and a clean spirit.
We are also told to present and renew.
Romans 12:1-2, “I beseech ye therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”
We are to offer ourselves, not creatures, as living sacrifices. That implies day by day denying our own cravings and desires to follow Him, making all our energy and assets available to Him, and confiding in Him to direct us. We do this because of appreciation that our wrongdoings have been pardoned.
Christians are designated "be not conformed to this world." That implies we are not to have its conduct and customs that are typically childish and regularly tainting. Our refusal to adjust to this present world's qualities and values should go further than the degree of conduct and customs, it should be solidly established in our minds, "be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." Only when the Holy Spirit reestablishes, re-teaches, and diverts our minds are we really changed (Romans 8:5).
We are to seek God.
Isaiah 55:6, “Seek ye the Lord while he may be found, call ye upon him while he is near::
Isaiah advises us to call upon the Lord while He is close. God is not wanting to move away from us; however, we frequently move a long way from Him or erect a boundary between ourselves and Him. Try not to delay until we have floated far away from God to look for Him. Further down the road going to Him might be undeniably more troublesome. Or on the other hand, God might come to pass judgment on the earth before we choose to look for Him. Do it now while we can, before it is past the point of no return.
We are to focus on Christ and things above.
Philippians 4:8, “Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.”
What we put into our brains will be portrayed in our words and activities. Paul advises us to program our brains with thoughts that are just, true, unadulterated, of good report, upright, and worthy of praise. How many of us have issues with unclean thoughts and fantasies? We are to analyze what we are placing into our brains through TV, books, motion pictures, and magazines. Supplant hurtful inputs with healthy material. Most importantly, read God's Word every day and pray. Request that he help us center our brains around what is acceptable and unadulterated. It takes practice however it is doable.
We are to stay close to Christ.
James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.”
How are we able to draw close to God? James gives five ideas: (1) Submit yourselves therefore to God (4:7). Understand that we need His pardoning and follow Him. (2) Resist the devil, and he will flee from you (4:7). Try not to permit him to allure us and entice us. (3) Cleanse your hands...and purify your hearts. (4:8). That means to carry on with an unadulterated life. Be purified from transgression, supplanting it with God's immaculateness. (4) Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep (4:9). Try not to be hesitant to communicate profound ardent distress for our wrongdoings. (5) Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up. (4:10; 1 Peter 5:6). Humbling ourselves implies understanding that our value comes from God alone.
We are to guard our hearts and minds.
Proverbs 4:23, “Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.”
Our hearts, our sensations of adoration and want, directs generally how we live, work, and play since we generally have the opportunity to do those things that we enjoy. Solomon advises us to keep our hearts with determination (diligence), ensuring we focus on those desires that will keep us on the correct way. Ensure that our affections and desires push us toward the correct path.
