God and the Hearts of God’s People
Jesus told the Samaritan woman that God is spirit and must be worshipped in spirit and truth (John 4:24). Paul breaks out in praise in 1 Timothy 1:17. One of the ways that he describes the God He is in awe of is that He is invisible.
However, even though God is an invisible spirit, God’s people have longed to see Him. The psalmist expressed this deep yearning when he wrote:
As the deer longs for streams of water,
so I long for you, O God.
2 I thirst for God, the living God.
When can I go and stand before him? (Psalm 42:1-2)
Likewise, in the New Testament, Philip voiced a similar longing when he said to Jesus,
“Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied.” (John 14:8)
Do the Scriptures Say We Will See God?
Key passages confirm that we will indeed see God the Father’s manifestation in heaven, just as we will see God the Son.
God blesses those whose hearts are pure,
for they will see God. (Matthew 5:8)
And instantly I was in the Spirit, and I saw a throne in heaven and someone sitting on it. 3 The one sitting on the throne was as brilliant as gemstones—like jasper and carnelian. And the glow of an emerald circled his throne like a rainbow. (Revelation 4:2-3)
The One seated on the throne in Revelation 4–5 is not Jesus, but God the Father (Revelation 5:1-7). This distinction becomes even more evident in Revelation 5:13, where the One on the throne (God the Father) is separated from the Lamb (God the Son). Another powerful confirmation is found in Revelation 22:4, which says:
And they will see his face, and his name will be written on their foreheads.
But Doesn’t the Bible Say No One Can See God?
Despite these promises, some point to passages stating that no one can see God:
“But you may not look directly at my face, for no one may see me and live.” (Exodus 33:20)
No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us. (John 1:18)
He alone can never die, and he lives in light so brilliant that no human can approach him. No human eye has ever seen him, nor ever will. All honor and power to him forever! Amen. (1 Timothy 6:16)
Making Sense of these Seeming Contradictions between these Verses
So, how do we reconcile these seemingly contradictory statements? The key is understanding the difference between our current, fallen state and our future glorified state in heaven.
In our present earthly bodies, we cannot survive the full manifestation of God’s glory. However, in heaven, with resurrected, glorified bodies, we will be able to see Him. The prohibition against seeing God applies to our mortal, sinful condition—but in eternity, we will be transformed and given the inestimable privilege of beholding our heavenly Father.
Bible teacher John MacArthur supports this view:
“I believe that in heaven we will see God Himself with our physical eyes… God will reveal the light of His glory, and through perfect eyes we will see the very face of God. God is spirit (John 4:24), and spirit is invisible; therefore, whenever God manifests Himself, He does so in the form of light… Seeing Christ and the Father will eternally awe us.”
One God, Yet Three Persons (The Trinity)
The fact that we will see both God the Father and God the Son in heaven does not mean there is more than one God. Scripture teaches that there is one true God (Deuteronomy 6:4)—one in essence but existing as three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. A helpful way to understand this is:
- God is one “what” (one divine essence).
- God is three “whos” (three persons—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit).
In heaven, we will experience the joy of seeing both the manifestation of the Father and the face of our Savior:
Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely. (1 Corinthians 13:12)
This incredible promise should fill every believer with anticipation. We will not only be in God’s presence—we will see Him!
Will you see God face to face one day? Jesus said that the pure in heart have this promise! How do we become pure in heart? By allowing Christ to purify our hearts, watch the video to see how He can transform your heart today!
Do you have any questions about the Book of Revelation or the End Times you’d like >SM to answer? If so, leave them in the comments below. I am learning and following Jesus like anyone else, so I welcome your biblical insight. Your questions and insights help me grow in my faith as I search the Scriptures for God’s answers.
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