The Face of God

"Deliver my soul from the wicked by your sword, from men by your hand, O LORD, from men of the world whose portion is in this life. You fill their womb with treasure, they are satisfied with children, and they leave their abundance to their infants. As for me, I shall behold your face in righteousness; when I awake, I shall be satisfied with your likeness." (Psalm 17:13b-15)

The face of God is what we were created to peer into and be full of satisfying pleasure and un-yielding yearning for more of God. We are creatures specifically for God. We are not His pets. The paradise of Eden and the final consummation of all creation, the new heavens and new earth, will feature a mind-blowing promise fulfilled:

"Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man." (Revelation 21:3)

Arndt, and other German mystics referred this paradise as, Unio Mystica the Mystical Union. God and Man united forevermore during, "the marriage supper of the Lamb." (Revelation 19:9). Here God himself, in all the fullness of Holy-trinitarian-community, will in some mysterious measure dwell with the Church forever. (The Father - The Son - The Holy Spirit) (Jesus Christ - His little shepherds - the flock of saved Christians) God has designed the relationship between Christ and the church to reflect the relationship among God in the trinity. Unio Mystica indeed!

"To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory." (Colossians 1:27)

What a marvelous mystery that is being revealed through the history of redemption. This thread ties everything together. God has given us this marvelous news, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God," (1 Peter 3:18) This is the source of true delight, that in Christ we are being brought back to the paradise of "the face of God." We are returning to the garden where we graciously are able to see God, to know God and righteously reflect God to all of His creation.

Our destination is good, because it is with God. Today, do not miss your opportunity to meet with the "face of God" through His Word. Today by faith, one day "face to face" (1 Corinthians 13:12)