Pure Sight

“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”—Matthew 5:8

The Sermon on the Mount is one of the most powerful sermons ever given. In it, we see our Lord describing the state of being, or quality of life, that the child of God must possess in order to go to glory. Not that our Lord is describing a work that would somehow give us a right standing before God, He’s not. The Beatitudes, so called because the word beatus in Latin means “blessed” or “happy,” speak not so much of a work as a demonstration of a life changed before God.

Paul illustrated this truth when he wrote, 

“Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure”—Philippians 2:12-13. 

Paul’s point? Though our salvation is a gift, we are still to grow in it. Imagine being given an athletic ability or other talent. You may have the talent, but if you do not discipline yourself or hone that talent, then your gift is useless. So it is with us; we have been given a “talent”—a special gift—in salvation, but we are to grow it, develop it, hone it for God’s glory.

When Jesus describes the “pure in heart” as blessed, He means those who possess the quality or state of being characterized by keeping oneself pure and untainted by the world. Imagine a water bottle containing crystal clear water from the Alps. It’s pure, having passed through a natural filtration system in order to be that way, but if we were to open it up and continually throw trash in it, then it’s no longer pure. For the Christian to be pure in heart, it means guarding oneself and refusing to take the garbage of the world into our hearts and minds. It means refusing to indulge, be entertained by, or peruse anything that would cause us to stumble or sin. God is desirous that we employ our minds in ways that edify and promote purity in us–not pollute us (see Philippians 4:8).

We guard ourselves from the world, not that we become isolated from the world and reject modernity altogether, as some have done; nor should we be so removed from the world so as to be of no earthly good. But we are on guard, on the defense, and when the time comes we refuse to take in the garbage of the world into our hearts, minds, homes, browsers and DVD players.

When the arteries are clogged, the blood doesn’t get through. And how do they get clogged? By eating poorly. We must eat a healthy diet of God’s Word, making sure not to eat the fattening junk food of the world that brings about spiritual heart attacks. Lower your spiritual cholesterol so that you may be a healthy and pure believer. And what is the reward for keeping the garbage out of the mind’s eye? Having a clear view of God—which means using your sight to see Him who created sight and color, and who imprinted the very definition of beauty on our souls.

My brother or sister, let’s eat healthy, and avoid spiritual junk food so that we might see Him who is our soul’s delight, the Savior, our God, Jesus Christ the King. And when we do, we will marvel in rapturous praise, thankful that we can now, by God’s grace, avoid the sins that once so easily entangled, and thankful that we eat at the table of righteousness which results in the pure spiritual joy of knowing Him and being known by Him, forevermore. Amen.