SEEING GOD -Vander Veen

by Jerry Vander Veen

The statement "see God' appears frequently in the Scriptures, which raises the question, "Is man able to "see God"'? As a boy I saw Hitler in what he did during the Second World War – is that what may be meant in man seeing God?

God has revealed Himself in varied forms, deeds, history, nature and, above all through His Son. Abram had a visit from God in the form of a "theophany" as recorded in Genesis 18:1-33; 32:28-30. Again, we have a most remarkable revelation recorded in Exodus 3:1-15 where God appeared to Moses in the burning bush. God clarifies the fact that this was His divine revelation. He is in v. 14 I AM THAT I AM. As the Israelites left Egypt, God accompanied them in the miraculous way of the pillar of fire by night and the pillar of the cloud by day. God has revealed Himself throughout His Word as we see in Isaiah 6:1 "In the year that King Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and His train filled the temple."

If ever there would be the revelation of God, He is seen in His Son the Lord Jesus Christ, John 14:9 "Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long with time with you, and yet hast thou not know me, Phillip? He that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how saith thou then, Shew us the Father." Now, has anyone ever seen God? Consider John 1:18 "No man hath seen God at any time; the only begotten Son, which is in the bosom of the Father, he hath declared Him." How clear this is made in Colossian 1:15 "Who is the image of the invisible God, the first born of every creature." No! God has not been seen, John 6:46 "Not that any man hath seen the Father, save He which is of God, (Jesus) He hath seen the Father." I Timothy 6:16 "Who only hath immortality, dwelling in the light which no man can approach unto; whom no man hath seen, nor can see: to whom be honour and power everlasting. Amen." I John 4:12 "No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, (Holy Spirit) and His love is perfected in us."

God is unsearchable, therefore the attributes, character of God are far reaching above the finite ability of man as recorded in Psalm 145:3 "Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable." It has been clarified from Scripture that mortal man has not, and cannot see God – it would be devastating for sinful man to see God; he would not survive the seeing of God.

The question now is: Will he see God when immortal? Matthew 5:8 relates an astounding statement that will make us evaluate what we have said heretofore, "Blessed are the pure in heart; for they shall see God." Read Revelation 1:4-8 and chapter 4; 5:6. The scene in heaven expresses what the immortal man, serving the God of the universe will see, Revelation 22:3,4" And there shall be no more curse: but the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it; and His servants serve Him: and they shall see His face: and His name shall be in their foreheads" In the light of the above, what kind of folk ought we to be? See I John 3:3 "and every man that hath this hope is him purifieth himself, even as He is pure."

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