[Forrest]

Seeing God with eyes of spiritual understanding will change the way we view the Christian life. I have some good news for you. Deep and well structured theological insight is not a requirement for seeing God. Years of study or years of devotion to God with the committed disciplines of a militant soldier do not guarantee true spirituality. And a clean and perfect past life are certainly not qualifications for seeing Him. If that were the case, none of us would see Him. There are two biblical examples I would like to share with you. These are examples of two men who “saw” God with eyes of spiritual understanding and how it altered their lives. Have you seen Him?

ISAIAH

“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple. Above it stood the seraphims: each one had six wings; with twain he covered his face, and with twain he covered his feet, and with twain he did fly. And one cried unto another, and said, Holy, holy, holy, is the LORD of hosts: the whole earth is full of his glory. And the posts of the door moved at the voice of him that cried, and the house was filled with smoke. Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts” (Isaiah 6:1-5).

What can we learn from this Heavenly vision which was given to the Prophet Isaiah? Simply this. When Isaiah saw the Lord, high and lifted up, it helped him to see himself for “what” and “who” he really was. A man who was “undone” or literally one who was cut off from deity. A man of unclean lips. When God gave Isaiah a glimpse of His glory, power, and holiness it humbled him. It broke him. It caused him to confess his nothingness and proclaim God’s magnificence. “For mine eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts.” Have you seen the King, the Lord of hosts, through the Holy Word with eyes of spiritual understanding.

JOB

Remember the story of Job? He was a good man who avoided evil and had a good reputation among his fellow countrymen. He faithfully and diligently prayed for his children. And he was also a man of great wealth and prosperity. But things suddenly changed. He lost all of his possessions, his personal health deteriorated, and if that were not enough, all ten of his children died in an instance. His so called “friends” falsely and harshly judged him. He had nothing. He was nothing. And he concluded it would have been better to have never been born! But He was exactly where a sovereign God allowed him to be.

Beginning in Job chapter 38, God begins to reveal His sovereignty and His power. He shows He is omniscient [the fact He is all knowing], omnipresent [the fact He is all present], and omnipotent [the fact He is all powerful]. After this “eye opening” revelation, Job confessed something very important and relevant to living the full Christian life.

“Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every thing, and that no thought can be withholden from thee. Who is he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not. Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee. Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes” (Job 42:1-6).

Job really saw God and it changed his life. When his understanding and view of God changed, it also changed his opinion of himself. “Wherefore I abhor myself, and repent in dust and ashes.”

I guess at some point, most of us have heard a certain biblical truth over and over again, and one day we finally “heard” it with spiritual comprehension and understanding. It made a difference in our thoughts and actions. We really “saw” God’s greatness with spiritual eyes. God’s Word became precious and life changing.

In this devotional thought, I would like to relate the spiritual awakenings of Isaiah and Job, specifically to the subject of “seeing” the Person of the Lord Jesus Christ with eyes of understanding. Instead of referencing many truths, I am focusing on the truth, Jesus Christ. So let me ask, have you “seen” Jesus Christ and His fullness through the Word of truth?

God the Father makes it abundantly clear that His purpose and plan is for all the fullness of the Godhead bodily to dwell in Christ. Jesus is preeminent in all things. He has all power. He has a name above every name. He is head of the church. Without Him we can do nothing. Jesus Christ is the central focus of Scripture. Have you seen this truth with eyes of understanding?

Our Heavenly Father uses His Holy Word, troublesome and difficult trials, and, when necessary, loving correction to direct us to Christ. Is Jesus Christ real and personally intimate to you? Do you see Him? Each time you read the Scriptures, I admonish you to seek Christ. As you go through a fiery trial, look to Jesus the Author and Finisher of our faith. Let the loving correction of your Heavenly Father turn your eyes to Jesus Christ. Ask and you will receive. Seek and you shall find. Knock and it will be opened unto you. If you really have a desire to know God, then long to know Jesus Christ. Seek and see Him.

[stephanos]

Thank you brother, that was beautiful.

Much Love in Christ,
Stephen

[peopleoftheway]

Wonderful Post!
How right you are Brother about The LORD using his Holy Word to draw us near to him. But there are those that rely to much on what they themselves can learn from the Word and would forget to humble themselves before a Mighty Sovereign God and allow HIM to show them wisdom and truth. We truly are nothing brother, we truly are nothing without his righteousness. Seek the LORD all of the day with a humble spirit, for read how the LORD our God regards the Humble.

Psalms 69:32
The humble shall see this, and be glad: and your heart shall live that seek God.
Proverbs 16:19
Better it is to be of an humble spirit with the lowly, than to divide the spoil with the proud.
Proverbs 29:23
A man's pride shall bring him low: but honour shall uphold the humble in spirit.
Isaiah 57:15
For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth eternity, whose name is Holy; I dwell in the high and holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and humble spirit, to revive the spirit of the humble, and to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

Christ makes it quite clear that we are to come as if we are nothing, so that he can make us something.
Matthew 18:4
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven.
Matthew 23:12
And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

The Apostles write that to humble ourselves before God, is to receive his Grace and we shall be exalted and lifted up. To have pride over what we have learned and not give the Glory to God is very wrong, for all scripture is given by Inspiration Of God, not inspiration of ourselves.

James 4:6
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.
James 4:10
Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.
1 Peter 5:5
Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble.
1 Peter 5:6
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

It is quite clear from scripture that we MUST come before God and his holy Word as nothing , with a humble spirit and with all pride put aside if we are to benefit and be exalted by what we read in that glorious Book.
Forrest Brother forgive me If I have ran on a bit on your post, my point though is in regards to Isaiah and Job particularly, because through all of their Trials they remained meek and humble and the LORD lifted them up.
I guess my point is, that the more we see God through his Holy written Word, the more we ourselves realise our own insignificance and further humble ourselves with every increase in knowledge, putting pride further away from us so that we may draw nearer to the LORD of LORD'S and the KING of KINGS.