People love to see the faces of other people. This is why we meet over coffee, and have created technology like Zoom, Facetime, GoToMeeting, and even found a way to put cameras on both sides of our phones. There is an insatiable appetite for people to see the faces of those we love.
In past days, soldiers headed off to war would tuck in the pocket of their uniform a photo with the face of their wife and kids. As soon as a baby is born, the first thing we do is start snapping pictures of their chubby cheeks. Today, many people have as the screen saver on their phone the face of someone they love. Hanging in the walls of most homes and sitting on the desks of most businesses are the photos of the faces of people we love. At every high school dance and graduation, parents line up to take photos of their smiling children. And, every kids sports team has the mandatory team photo.
Why?
We were made to see the face of God. Older theologians called this “Coram Deo” which means to live in the face of God. Heaven is said to be a place where we see God’s face. This is quite staggering considering that in the Old Testament even the godly man Moses was not allowed to see God’s proverbial “face”. In Exodus 33:18-23, Moses said, “Please show me your glory.” And He [God] said, “I will make all my goodness pass before you…But,” he said, “you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live…I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen.”
The hope that sustained Job through all of his suffering was the faith that one day, after he died, he would rise from death to see God face-to-face. Job 19:26 says, “And after my skin has been thus destroyed, yet in my flesh I shall see God…” This same longing that sustained Job through his life should sustain us through our life.
Jesus later promised in Matthew 5:8, “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Paul echoes this saying in 1 Corinthians 13:12, “For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face.”
Heaven is not just about a place; it is mainly about a Person. For those who love God, can you even imagine what it will be like to look Jesus face-to-face? That day is coming. In the context of revealing what it will be like when Heaven comes to earth with Jesus Revelation 22:4 promises, “They will see his face…” Words cannot describe how amazing this will be and I promise nothing you have ever seen will compare to His face smiling at you.
Which persons face who you know is your favorite to recall? Why?