Seeing God face to face

We had this question the other night at a Bible Study: What are you looking forward to seeing first in heaven?

The normal answers pervaded: Jesus, God, family members, pets, etc.

But can you really imagine? Can you really think about what it will be like to see God, the Father, and Jesus the Son in person. Face to face.

Gideo did. In judges 6:20, the Bible says: 20 The angel of God said to him, "Take the meat and the unleavened bread, place them on this rock, and pour out the broth." And Gideon did so. 21 With the tip of the staff that was in his hand, the angel of the LORD touched the meat and the unleavened bread. Fire flared from the rock, consuming the meat and the bread. And the angel of the LORD disappeared. 22 When Gideon realized that it was the angel of the LORD, he exclaimed, "Ah, Sovereign LORD! I have seen the angel of the LORD face to face!" 23 But the LORD said to him, "Peace! Do not be afraid. You are not going to die." 24 So Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and called it The LORD is Peace.

Now, we've been taught that in the Old Testament, anytime you see the angel of the Lord (unless the angel is named), it is the pre-incarnate Jesus.

So imagine that Gideon sees Jesus. How does he know him? How does he recognize him? How does he "realize" it is the angel of the Lord?

Isn't it interesting that almost every time this happens, food is involved?

In the 18th chapter of Genesis, Abraham is visited by three "men." His first reaction, which in the culture of the land at the time meant to offer food is to offer fellowship, friendship, a place to stay even.

The Bible says, beginning in the sixth verse of that chapter: "So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. "Quick," he said, "get three seahs of fine flour and knead it and bake some bread." 7 Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. 8 He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree. 9 "Where is your wife Sarah?" they asked him. "There, in the tent," he said. 10 Then the LORD said, "I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son." Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, "After I am worn out and my master [d] is old, will I now have this pleasure?" 13 Then the LORD said to Abraham, "Why did Sarah laugh and say, 'Will I really have a child, now that I am old?' 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD ? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son." 15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, "I did not laugh." But he said, "Yes, you did laugh."


On the road to Emmaus, Jesus isn't recognized until he breaks bread.

And on and on.

The breaking of bread, the serving of a stew, the preparing of a meal constitutes coming together and a life together.

Angels, perhaps the trinity (three men?, one of whom is called the Lord?), the pre-incarnate Jesus, all are recognized and accepted when a meal is served.

It is that same way today when we have communion together. When we ingest the bread and drink the juice, we literally become the body of Christ, redeemed by his blood.

I've given communion literally hundreds of times. At Lacombe UMC, we do it every week. But it excites me to this day. If I had no other reason to be in the ministry, this one act would be enough. It is goose-bump producing; a wonderful moment each week; something to look forward to even if the sermon hasn't gone well or the congregation is sleepy or the music has been flat. Hand out the body, offer the cup, and the face of Jesus is made visible for all to see. It is the person handing the body and offering the cup and like Gideon we cry out, "I have seen the angel of the Lord face to face" and like Sarah, we laugh. Unlike Sarah, though, we laugh out of joy. we smile out of revelation. We grin out of peace and satisfactin.

And we mean it.