FACE TO FACE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23108, 6 February 1937, Page 4

FACE TO FACE

Written for the Otago Daily Times By the Rev. D. Gardner Miller

If anyone asked me what my favourite chapters in the Bible are, I think my list would vary according to the experience through which J was passing at the moment of asking. But lam certain that one chapter in particular would appear on every list, no matter what my experience at the moment may be, and that chapter is the thirteenth of the first epistle "o the Corinthians. >lt is the " Faith, Hope, Love" chapter, and it is so full of wisdom and grace that I have seldom preached from it for fear that I might spoil its beauty by my clumsiness. The chapter is known as Paul's Hymn to Love, and that, I think, is the most fitting title that could be given to it. ' Towards the end of this glorious hymn are two stanzas that have always intrigued me. They seem to me to be so true of my present experience and so splendidly hopeful of the experience which I shall have—and you too—after death. These two stanzas are marked in our Bible as verse 12. Moffatt's translation is so enlightening that I prefer it to any other: "At present we only see the baffling reflections in a mirror, but then it will be face to face; at present I am learning bit by bit, but then I shall understand, as all along I have myself been understood." Of course we understand that the word " mirror " is hot to be confused wit the mirror which is an almost necessary part of the equipment of our modern homes. To Paul, the "mirror" was a highly polished piece of metal. Naturally it could not reflect either with clearness or accuracy, as our modern glass mirrors do. The reflections from these polished pieces of metal would be slightly distorted and therefore baffling. But I think there another way of illustrating what Paul had in mind. As you know, it is still fairly common to use celluloid in our motor cars. Anyone who has driven much with side-curtains made of celluloid knows that the view from them is anything but clear and accurate. Well, it is like that with regard to our views of God and the life of faith generally. We see. but we do not see very clearly. . There is always something that puzzles us. God sees us clearly, but we see Him, as ' were, through celluloid. We have no doubt that He is there, but our understanding of Him is very imperfect. Our vision of God is slightly distorted. What would we not give to see Him face to face? And that is just exactly what Paul says will be our privilege one day.

The expression, "face to face" is one very often used by all of us. For instance, when you have rather a difficult letter to write and you are not very good at writing, you feel, and say, that everything would be all right if you could see him face to ■ face, and have a good talk. But you and I know that it is not the face of our friend, in itself, that we mean when we say we would love to see him " face to face." We really mean that understanding would come if we got together. The actual physical features matter little.

Now, it is just the same when we talk about seeing God, one day, face to face. I doubt if we could lift up our heads in the light that is Eternal. Seeing God face to face is something deeper and finer than looking upon features that we with our limited knowledge have likened to our own.

Let me explain this with two simple illustrations. Jesus once said " the pure in heart shall see Gpd." He meant, riot that a pure heart has eyes and that these eyes could see God as we see people passing along the street, but rather that those whose hearts are pure shall become " aware " of God, shall " sense " His Presence and " know " His care and love. The second illustration is one you and I have used so often that its meaning has become so common that its wonder has been lost. It is this, "Oh, I see now." Something has puzzled us and then suddenly we have been led to an understanding and immediately say, " Oh, of course, I see it now; how could I have been so stupid?" But you haven't " seen" anything at all. What has happened is that • your understanding has been illumined. You " see " because a meaning that has been obscure is now clear. Well, Paul says that one day our ideas of God will become clear; we shall be "aware" of Him and the puzzles that have perplexed us will melt like the frost on the leaves when the sun comes out. It is our inner eyes that shall be opened fully on that day. New, at present, these inner eyes do not see very clearly; there is always something that comes in between and distorts, and we feel baffled. But one day we shall see Him " face to face," and that means we shall have an " insight" that is not obscured. But there is something more to be said; a " sorriething" which, to me, is precious beyond all the glittering pages of the world. That "something " is the understanding that shall be ours when we see God, "face to face." Read the words again: "Then I shall understand, .as all along I have myself been understood." Is there anything that has hurt us more in this life than to be misunderstood, especially by those w-i care for? I declare that misunderstanding is the most prolific cause of heart-burnings, mental anguish, broken homes and soured lives than any other cause that could be mentioned. We are so stupid and clumsy; we hurt each other when we really don't mean to do it. How precious is the thought that one day " we shall know each other better, when the mists have rolled away? " Just see what Paul implies! God had understood us all along. There has not been a day or an incident in our lives but He has understood all the motives and feelings and actions that have made us what we are. Others have misunderstood us We have grievously misunderstood them. But God makes no mistakes. One day, when we have " passed over," we shall understand ourselves, our own queer make-up, just as God has understood us all along, in spite of our mistakes and short-sighted-ness. In other words, we shall share God's understanding of ourselves. And that, of course, includes the clearing away of all the misunderstandings between us and others. That, to me, I think, makes Heaven. " Face to face," no distorted view, an intimate understanding, and a satisfaction that is corhplete. 1 know my interpretation is faulty, but J told you my touch is clumsy.