The Beatific Vision by John McDuff
Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God. Matthew
5.8 Here is heaven. This promise of Jesus represents
the future state of the glorified to consist not in locality, but
in character. The essence of its bliss is the
full vision and fruition of God. Our attention is called away
from all vague and indefinite theories about the circumstantials
of future happiness. The one grand object of contemplation,
the glory which excels, is the sight of God Himself, The one
grand practical lesson enforced on his people is the cultivation
of that purity of heart, without which none could see or, even
could we suppose it possible to be admitted to see him, none
could enjoy God. What will heaven be but the entire
surrender of the soul to Him, without any bias to evil, without
the fear of corruption within, echoing to temptation without,
every thought brought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, no
contrariety to His mind, all in blessed unison with His will,
and the whole being impregnated with holiness? the intellect,
purified and ennobled, consecrating all its powers to His service,
the memory, a holy repository of pure and hallowed recollections,
the affections, without one competing rival, purged from all the dross
of earthliness, the love of God, the one supreme animating passion,
The glory of God, the motive principle, interfused through
every thought, feeling, and action of the life immortal. In one
word, the heart, a clear fountain, no sediment to dim its purity. Yes, this is heaven, purity of
heart, and God all in all. Much, doubtless, there may and
will be of a subordinate kind to intensify the bliss of the
redeemed, communion with saints and angels, readmission into
the society of death-divided friends. But all these will fade
before the great central glory. God himself shall be with them
and be their God, they shall see his face. Believers have
been aptly called sunflowers, turning their faces as a sunflower
towards the sun of righteousness, and hanging their leaves in sadness
and sorrow when that sun is away. It will be in heaven that the
emblem is complete. There, every flower in the heavenly
garden will be turned Godwards, bathing its tints of loveliness
in the all-excelling glory of God. Reader, may it be yours
to know all the marvels contained in these few glowing words. We
shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. I shall be
satisfied when I awake with your likeness. And every man who has
this hope in him purifies himself, even as he is pure.