Seeing God

1 Timothy 6:15-16

He lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. (1 Timothy 6:16)

MEDIEVAL CHRISTIANS THOUGHT a lot about the beatific vision: the possibility of seeing God directly, particularly in the highest places of heaven after we die. This vision is a prominent theme in the theology of Thomas Aquinas, the climax of Dante’s Divine Comedy, and the hope of many believers as their final state of bliss. It taps into the longing every human heart has to encounter the divine presence visibly and completely. It gives us a sense of purpose.

We don’t have to wait for the afterlife to begin experiencing God, however. On one hand, Scripture tells us no one can see God (Exodus 33:20; John 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:16; 1 John 4:12). On the other hand, we are told that Moses spoke with God face to face (Exodus 33:11); God appeared to Abraham in human form (Genesis 18:1); Jacob saw his face (Genesis 32:30); Isaiah saw the Holy One sitting on his throne (Isaiah 6:1); Daniel saw the Ancient of Days on his throne (Daniel 7:9-10, NIV); Ezekiel saw God’s glory (Ezekiel 1:28); John saw the one sitting on the throne (Revelation 4:3); we can see the Lord’s glory (2 Corinthians 3:18); and we will see him as he really is (1 John 3:2). In some cases, these visions were physical representations of God or manifestations of his glory; in others, they seem to be direct visions of God himself. In any case, they are hints of the beatific vision—not in the afterlife but in the lives of people on earth.

Paul and John were clear that seeing God—or some true representation of him—has the power to transform us into his image. In light of that, one of our highest goals should be to see him more clearly each day, to ask him to reveal himself in increasing measure. What the medieval scholastics saw as a one-day final event, we can get a glimpse of today. And in doing so, we become what the world needs most—children of God who are truly remade in his image.

{Lord, I want to see you—in whatever form and to whatever degree of intensity you will allow. Let my vision of you change me forever, and empower me to live in your image. Grant me now a glimpse of what I will experience in full one day. Amen.