Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.
The pure in heart here spoken of must not be understood to mean that this characteristic is naturally inherent in any person, without the work of God's Spirit upon our hearts. Sincerity does not equate to purity in heart, for there are very many people who are honested- hearted, yet are entrenched in serious and sometimes grave sins, which cannot warrant the description of being "Pure". However, when Christ takes possession of our hearts, a work is begun which we ourselves can never do, and day by day we are brought to the point of living with upright purposes, in sincerity and truth, so that the stains of sin that are washed away on a daily basis, do not interfere with the purity that is referenced in our passage for today.
One such example can be found in the life story of Daniel, who from his youth had cultivated the disposition to be true to God in all of the various experiences of life, and when faced with dire circumstances, in which he was at times tempted to diverge from the path of truth and duty, he was shown to consistently live with a clear conscience, by choosing the good and right way. However, Daniel, like all other human beings that are born with fallen natures, had his own struggles and issues to deal with, for like any of us, he had sins to confess, and was aware that natural purity is something that is not inherent, and therefore could only be achieved through the grace of God. Let's read:
Daniel 9:2 In the first year of his reign I Daniel" ..... 3 "set my face unto the Lord God, to seek by prayer and supplications, with fasting, and sackcloth, and ashes: 4 And I prayed unto the Lord my God, and made my confession" ..... 5 We have sinned, and have committed iniquity, and have done wickedly, and have rebelled, even by departing from thy precepts and from thy judgments: 20 And whiles I was speaking, and praying, and confessing my sin and the sin of my people Israel" ..... 21 "the man Gabriel, whom I had seen in the vision at the beginning, being caused to fly swiftly, touched me about the time of the evening oblation.
The blessing that is promised to the pure in heart is that they shall see God, and in the case of Daniel, this was fulfilled literally, for he was visited with many visions and dreams, and was permitted to converse with Christ and holy angels on several occasions, thus showing that if we also submit ourselves to be molded and purified by Christ, we also will see God by faith and finally in person when Jesus comes.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture which encourages us to think and to do all things in uprightness, sincerity, and truth, for when this is accomplished through the power of God, His character becomes clearer and clearer to our minds, so that with the eye of faith we will be enabled to see God. Let's read:
Psalms 24:3 Who shall ascend into the hill of the Lord? or who shall stand in his holy place? 4 He that hath clean hands, and a pure heart; who hath not lifted up his soul unto vanity, nor sworn deceitfully. 5 He shall receive the blessing from the Lord, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
May this be our experience both now and forevermore. God bless!