Dear Friends of "Dial Daily Bread,"
Decades ago a magazine was launched that was entitled merely "LOOK." It consisted almost entirely of pictures. We humans love to "look" at almost anything of interest, always seeking some new knowledge or excitement.
The ultimate "look" eventually before us all is the sight of the face of God. Every one will most assuredly see Him--not just "the pure in heart," but also those who are impure in heart.
The tragedy is that those who are impure in heart will be forced to look against their will. They are described as crying to the mountains and rocks, "Hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne" (Rev. 6:16). That Face is the one sight they most dread to see. John says, "I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away" (Rev. 20:11), a Face that is brighter than the sun.
Why? Because that Face registers all the love, the agape, that led the Son of God to go to the deepest depths of hell in order to save the sinner; and the sinner has resisted and rejected that love, time and time again, and crucified the Son of God afresh by choosing to remain in alienation and rebellion. And now, at last he must come face to face with the One who has so loved him and blessed him, all this unacknowledged and unappreciated. Now he would give anything to live his mortal life over again. Jesus expressly says that He will not condemn the lost sinner in that day; but the condemnation will come simply by looking in the face of the One who was his Savior.
Could anything be more important than preparing for that moment when we look at that Face? "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God," says Jesus, obviously meaning that they will "look and live," and not be afraid, for "perfect agape casts out fear" (1 John 4:18). It does so, beginning today. You can talk with Him--long before you have to see Him.
--Robert J. Wieland
From the "Dial Daily Bread" Archive: May 18, 1998.
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