Seeing God is the biblical hope that spans the Scriptures.

If you are at all like me, I am having a hard time leaving the topic of our recent conference at church. I do not want to forget about the "All Things New" at the Pactum Conference.

It was labeled as an eschatological conference because it borrowed the theme and verse in Revelation 21:5 that states, 'And He who is seated on the throne said, "Behold I am making all things new." And certainly, He did!

Jesus Christ accomplished what no man has ever or will ever be able to accomplish. He perfectly executed the covenant of works as a public head for all of mankind. Not only that, He was and is the only person ever able to receive the full wrath of God Himself as He hung on the cross on that Friday so long ago to make everlasting atonement for the elect.

Therefore, Jesus rose from the dead as the firstborn to be the first of many, as it were, to the new creation order. He alone has ushered us from the temporal life of the world to the eternal life in Christ. What a Savior! What a Gospel!

Adam's life in the garden pales in significance to the eschatological life we have in Christ. Why? Because Adam was offered a test, and possible judgment and death were looming. Not so for Christians! By faith alone, Christians stand in the completed promises of God in Christ.

We stand blameless; we stand justified, and we stand against any possible threat of judgment or any loss of eternal life with the Son. It's amazing to contemplate this great new covenant reality. Jesus is better than we ever imagined!

This contemplation of our glorious Christ and how He alone has declared us as "all new things," including being His people forever in the new heavens and earth, anticipates what theologians call this final state the blessed hope of the beatific vision.

Clearly, our eschatology includes this gloried vision/comprehension of God Himself. All of Scripture will attest to this. In Psalm 27:4, David says, "One thing I asked of the Lord, that I will seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the Lord..." So this vision has a final form in glory and an already/not yet for Christians today.

In 2 Corinthians 3:18, Paul states, "And we all with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit."

Another important verse that gives us more insight into this eschatological reality of this all-encompassing vision of God is found in 1 John 3:2. John says, "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when He appears we shall be like Him, because we shall see Him as He is.

And everyone who thus hopes in Him purifies himself as He is pure." Wow! This is an amazing reality. Let that sink in. I can't help but to hear the echoes of God Himself, "they will be my people and I will be their God." It will bring eternal joy, eternal comfort, and eternal satisfaction.

So, in conclusion, at the consummation of all things, those who are saved will apprehend as much as possible for a glorified mind to grasp the essence and glory of the triune God. This is a staggering reality that God has designed for the redeemed to experience. So, folks, this great joy is not only ever before us in eternity but today as well, in part with our eyes of faith, provided by the Spirit.

My only question is, how does the future reality of "beatific vision" for every Christian change or alter our present daily life and situation? Because of our precious gospel, I think we are to be heavenly-minded so that we experience earthly good!

The gospel alone is the answer to real human happiness. How else can we deal with the trials, temptations, and uncertainties? May the realities of our eschatological hope of beatific vision give you strength today. It is a great thing to be meditating on the gospel, and Sunday worship can't come soon enough.