We Will See His Face

How do we typically greet one another in the United States?

It’s typical for give one another a firm handshake.

In Europe it’s very normal to exchange a kiss on each cheek. Two kisses for people you meet for the first time and three kisses for close relationships.

However, if we were to travel to New Zealand, we would encounter the indigenous Maori people.

For the Maori, it is customary to greet one another with a hongi - where both people press their noses and foreheads against the other.

It is a very close/intimate greeting. We would probably that someone was invading our personal space.

In our culture we would reserve this type of closeness only for your immediate family…and that’s even a stretch!

Nevertheless, it’s important for us to consider how a very close relationship with someone gives you access to certain details about that person.

For example, did you know that one of my ears is a bit higher than the other. You would only know this if you were to stare at me for a minute and focus on my ears…but that would be a bit weird.

There certain details about us that only our closes family members know.

Well, in the Bible, as we come to the last chapter of the last book, the book of Revelation we read an astonishing verse.

John shows us what eternity is going to be like.

He describes that the city of God will have a river of life flowing through it and that the tree of life will a new harvest of fruit every single month of the year.

…and even as John is describing these details he gives writes:

Apocalipsis 22:3–4 ESV

3 No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 4 They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads.

Notice what John writes - they, the people of God that worship him, will see his face.

John is declaring that all who worship God will one day see God’s face.

Now, this is an astonishing promise.

But first we need to understand something very important.

Moses had asked God to be able to see his face.

Éxodo 33:18 ESV

18 Moses said, “Please show me your glory.”

Éxodo 33:20 ESV

20 But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live.”

But Moses was denied this privilege because it is imposible for man to see the fullness of God’s glory, to see his face, and live.

God’s glory, on this side of eternity, is so great, is so holy, is so powerful, that we would die if we were to see his glory.

So by not letting Moses see his face God was actually protecting Moses from certain death.

So…shouldn’t we be afraid that one day, when we are in eternity, that one day we will see God’s face? Won’t we die?

Well, what is the reason that Moses would die if he saw God’s face?

Old sinful Moses.

Although Moses was a great servant of God and walked according to God’s word, he was not a perfect man.

Moses was a mere mortal, just like us, and he sinned against God.

We would’ve gone up in flames upon beholding the fulness of God’s glory.

But, when we are in God’s presence, in the eternal state, sin would’ve been conquered, and we will be perfected in God’s presence…such that we will be able to behold God’s face.

We will know God just as he is.

We will behold his presence.

We will really get to know God when we are no longer hindered by the world, by the devil, and our own sinful flesh.

We long for that day when we will come to know GOd just as he really is.