I wear glasses when I’m reading or watching television. I don’t really need my glasses to see, but I do need them to see clearly. Without them words on a page are a bit blurry and images on the television screen are not optimal. But when I put my glasses on, everything is crystal clear. Details that were once unrecognizable are now fully revealed. Paul explains that our vision of God is somewhat similar. Right now, as we live in these corporal bodies, it is as if we can only see a blurry reflection of him. But there will come a time when we will be able to see him with crystal clarity. There will come a time when we will fully know him. Paul puts it this way in First Corinthians 13:12. It says:
“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.”
“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror…” In Bible times the mirror wasn’t what it is today. Today, when we look in a mirror we can see an accurate reflection of ourselves. But back then mirrors were made of polished metal. The reflection wasn’t very clear. It was blurry; only clear enough to make out the major details. None of us have seen Jesus in the flesh. And the Bible mentions that it is death for a mortal human being to look at God face to face. But, Paul reminds us that there will come a time when we will see him face to face. Not only that, but we will know him fully. I believe that this revelation will be the highlight of our eternal existence; to know God fully even as we are fully known by him. I don’t know about you, but my mind is not able to truly understand the magnitude of that truth. But I look forward to it with eager expectation and I hope you do too.
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Jesus is the only one who has ever walked the earth with the full knowledge of who God is. This side of heaven, we can only see a poor reflection; we can only know in part. I thank God that we can at least know him as well as we can, but even what we do know takes faith. Jesus said, “blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed”. Most of us only know in our hearts. Some of us have been privileged enough to have seen him in dreams or have heard the audible voice of God. Some have even claimed to have died and seen him. But for the rest of us, it is our faith that compels us. But take heart, there will come a time when you will see God face to face; when you will fully know him. If you are a believer today, I encourage you to take hold of that truth. I encourage you to wait in anticipation for the glorious revelation that is yet to come.