Purity of Heart

Tom Hill

Purity of Heart:
   Open Vision Spiritual perception is based upon purity of heart.
   What we see in life and how we see it is rooted in the soil of our inner
   thought life. If we would experience clear and open vision concerning
   the kingdom of God, a pure heart is most essential.

Revelation Perception At the Throne of God
In the book of Revelation there is a marvel: ". . . in the center and
around the throne, four living creatures full of eyes in front and
behind. . . around and within" (Rev. 4:6, 8).
Our purpose here is not to spend ourselves in speculations about
these creatures. Our goal is to possess that purity of heart that comes
from living in the awareness of God.

We're seeking the open vision that is manifested at His throne!

Though these "living creatures" may represent many things, one thing
is fairly certain: John was not seeing a nightmarish vision of six-winged
beasts with dozens of eyes covering their bodies.
What John saw was a symbol of a deeper truth.
The many "eyes" represent the open, all-inclusive vision that is the
result of being in God's presence.

Let it be known, where the Lord is, there also is His throne.
If you have had a meeting with the Lord, it is because your spirit is
at His throne. When you were spiritually reborn, you were born again
from above (John 3:3 Amplified).
At this very moment, through the agency of the Holy Spirit, your spirit
is "seated" with Christ upon His throne in heavenly places (Eph. 2:6).
Where His presence is, there also is open vision!

These "living creatures" are symbols of the life one finds as he abides
in God's presence. In Him our eyes can think: they see with
discernment and understanding.
The mind of Christ fuses with our vision, revealing what was impossible
to be seen by the narrowness of our perception; we see "in front and
behind." Our vision also comes from "the center . . . [of] the throne.
" Not only do we see distant spiritual realities, but we are close enough
to penetrate and search the depths of God Himself (1 Cor. 2:10).

Yet, at the same time, being near to God also gives us "eyes . .within,"
   eyes which monitor the motives that guide self, inner eyes which stand
   guard against sin. The more our vision opens up, the greater we see
   God in His holiness. The slightest sin in our lives becomes significant;
   we are compelled to live pure before Him.

The "four creatures" at the throne of God do not cease to say,
"Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God, the Almighty" (Rev. 4:8).
   Day and night, God is holy. When our spiritual eyes are open,
   the utterances of our mouths are all, "Holy, holy, holy."

A "True Israelite" Has Spiritual Perception.
Jesus spoke concerning Nathanael, "Behold, an Israelite indeed,
in whom is no deceit!" (John 1:47).
What kind of man was this young disciple, that Jesus should praise
him? There was no guile, no deceit in this young man's heart.
Oh, how we should desire this purity for ourselves!
Nathanael had "eyes . . . within." He kept himself free from
self-deception.

When you cleave to the truth inwardly, you will perceive the truth
outwardly. Nathanael looked at Jesus and declared,
"You are the Son of God; You are the King of Israel" (John 1:49).

Jesus said to Nathanael, "You will see greater things than these . . .
I say to you, you will see the heavens opened, and the angels of God
ascending and descending on the Son of Man" (vv. 50-51).
Because of Nathanael's honest heart, Jesus knew open vision would
be inevitable.

Open vision is the consequence of a pure heart. To those who fight
against sin, who hate falsehood, who diligently pursue walking in
holiness, your struggle is a preparation for seeing God.
You shall see the heavens opened!

Because of our dullness of heart, we have come to expect spiritual
blindness as an unfortunate condition of this world.
The truth is, in the Old Testament one of God's judgments against sin
was that the heavens became "bronze" (Deut. 28:23).
Most Christians similarly see the heavens closed.
Few see with open vision either into the heavenly realms or into their
own hearts. The heavens are always "bronze" to a hardened heart.
But the Lord promised, "You shall see the heavens opened, and the
angels of God"!

God wants us to have true spiritual vision.
One sign that the Holy Spirit is involved in a church is that,
"young men . . . see visions, and
your old men . . . dream dreams" (Acts 2:17).
There is continuity between God's kingdom in Heaven
and His kingdom on earth.

Oh, there are those who say the supernatural was strictly limited
to the first century,
Today! we "walk by faith, not by sight" (2 Cor. 5:7).

Yes, we often do take steps of faith, where we walk without prior
knowledge of what each step involves.
But we do perceive Him who is with us!
Ours is not a blind trust; it is a proven, seeing trust!
Walking by faith and having spiritual vision is not an either/or situation.
Just moments before Paul stated he walked by faith, he wrote,
"We look . . . at the things which are not seen . . . things which are . . .
eternal" (2 Cor. 4:18).

Paul had revelation perception of the spirit realm.
He saw the eternal spiritual body that was prepared and waiting for him
in the heavens (2 Cor. 5:1, 4)!
He knew how "a man . . . was caught up into Paradise and heard
inexpressible words" (2 Cor. 12:3-4).

We could continue concerning Paul's spiritual perception, but the fact
is, he authored one-third of the New Testament out of his open vision
of Christ.
How did he see the things he saw?
Just after he declared "with unveiled face [we behold] . . . the glory of
the Lord" (2 Cor. 3:18),
he wrote, "But we have renounced the things hidden because of
shame" (2 Cor. 4:2).
Later he continued, "Having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse
ourselves from all defilement of flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness
in the fear of God" (2 Cor. 7:1).

Out of a purified heart, out of his perfected holiness, came open vision
of the glory of God!

Remember, we are not seeking experiences, we are seeking a pure
heart. We are not running after visions; we want holiness.
Even as the supernatural realm was an expected phenomenon in the
primitive church, so also was purity the expected condition in their
hearts.
Therefore, do not be as the foolish ones who seek visions.
You must seek sanctification, and when you are ready,
if God wills, He shall speak to you in supernatural ways (Acts 2:17-18)
. Do not seek to conjure up an "experience" with Jesus; seek to have a
clean heart, allowing Christ to examine and purge you daily.
And as He washes you with His Word and chastens you with His
holiness, He will draw you into His presence.
He will open your eyes to "things without and things within."

   Blessings

   Tom@glorynow.com

Contact Tom