“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” (Matthew 5:8)
“The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith.” – Paul (1 Timothy 1:5)
Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart…” (1 Peter 1:22)
What does it mean when something is pure? I know that when a container of orange juice says “100% pure” I assume that there is nothing but orange juice in it. When something is pure it is free of contaminants or additives. The sixth beatitude that Jesus gives us is a call to be pure in heart. Let me remind you that Jesus has given five steps that have prepared us for this leg of our journey to a “blessed” life…a simplified life.
First, when the Scripture refers to our heart, it is talking about the center of our being…the seat of the emotions…what makes you tick. It is the motivation behind all we do. In other words, when the Bible talks about your heart, it is talking about the “real” you.
So what does it mean to be “pure in heart”? The verses referenced above use words like sincere and earnest when talking about purity. It is not so much about doing “good” or being “good”, but more about being “all in”… having an undivided motivation. Someone with a pure heart can be trusted. They do not have any hidden agenda. They are who they are…consistent and open. When they love, they love without manipulation and without a selfish agenda. They are not contaminated by the cynicism of this world. They are no longer tainted with the lusts of this world. They have been washed…purified…scrubbed clean. How? The Scripture says we were all infected by the impurity of sin but…because of the sacrifice of Jesus,
“…you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.” (1 Corinthians 6:11).
Jesus says that it is this type of person that sees God. In other words, a pure heart opens our eyes to see God and the Kingdom work all around us. Jesus frequently told His disciples that the Kingdom was all around them and that His Father was always at work (John 5:17). Don’t you want to see that?
Most of us can testify about moments in our lives when we have seen God working in the lives of others or our own. Sometimes we get a glimpse of God in circumstances that we refer to as “God moments”. The pure in heart, according to Jesus, see God in the world around them. When we put away the things that distract us and get rid of the things that divide our hearts…then our eyes are opened and we see Him.
Have you seen God recently? What are the things that are blocking your vision? What is dividing your heart? Today, purify your heart and look for God. He is working all around you.