"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said"--
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."--Matt. v.
8.
The Beatific Vision.
Here Is Heaven! This "word 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 from all vague and indefinite theories about the
_circumstantials_ of future happiness. The one grand object of
contemplation--the "glory which excelleth," 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! "The kingdom of Heaven cometh not with observation
... the kingdom of God is _within_ you."
Reader, hast thou attained any of this heart-purity and
heart-preparation? It has been beautifully said that "the openings of
the streets of heaven are on earth." Even here we may enjoy, in the
possession of holiness, some foretaste of coming bliss. Who has not felt
that the happiest moments of their lives were those of close walking
with God--nearness to the mercy-seat--when self was surrendered, and the
eye was directed to the glory of Jesus, with most single, unwavering,
undivided aim? 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; the whole _being_ impregnated with holiness--the
intellect purified and ennobled, consecrating all its powers to His
service--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, and feeling, and action of the life immortal; in one word, the
heart a pellucid fountain; no sediment to dim its purity, "no angel of
sorrow" to come and trouble the pool! The long night of life over, and
_this_ the glory of the eternal morrow which succeeds it! "I shall be
satisfied when I awake, with _Thy_ likeness."
Yes, this is Heaven, subjectively and objectively--_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; re-admission 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 _heliotropes_--turning their
faces as the sunflower towards the Sun of Righteousness, and hanging
their leaves in sadness and sorrow, when that Sun is away. It will be in
heaven the emblem is complete. _There_, every flower in the heavenly
garden will be turned Godwards, bathing its tints of loveliness in the
glory that excelleth! Reader, may it be yours, when o'er-canopied by
that cloudless sky, to know all the marvels contained in these few
glowing words, "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."