The Beatific Vision

"You speak in my heart and say, 'Seek my face.' Your face, Lord, will I seek" (Psalm 27:11).

Have you ever wondered what the face of God looks like? Over the centuries, many have considered this question. During the middle ages, theologians delved deeply into the notion and developed a phrase to describe it. "The Beatific Vision" is defined as the ultimate Christian hope of seeing God face-to-face in heaven.

The word "beatific" comes from Latin for "to make happy" because the vision is understood to be the source of complete joy. The medieval theologian, Thomas Aquinas said that to look upon God unmediated (as his redeemed people) equals total fulfillment and utter bliss because that is the final purpose for humanity. Scripture confirms the blessedness of that experience rather explicitly when Jesus says: "Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God."

But is seeing God's face strictly reserved for the future in heaven? In the ultimate sense, yes. But notice in our upcoming Psalm, God told David to seek his face even while he was alive.

Now, there is a metaphorical aspect to this because to seek God's face can mean generally to seek God himself. But the focus on his face particularly indicates the pursuit of a more intimate, personal encounter with the Lord. Consider the intimacy conveyed in the expressions of a face, like a warm smile of love and approval from a friend, a parent, or a spouse?

And this reveals a wonderful thing. God is eager for us to seek his face because he wants us to experience the blessedness of his presence. To be sure, we won't know the fullness of that joy until we stand before him as his redeemed children. But God is desirous that we get a foretaste of it through our daily interaction with him here and now.

Friends, let's respond to God's call like David did by praying, "Your face, Lord, will I seek."

Darin+