“Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.” Matt. 5:8 NIV
It can’t possibly mean, “Blessed are the perfect. They’ll be the ones who’ll get to see God in heaven.” Lordy, that would be a club with no members.
I think it’s more like the way The Message paraphrases it. “You’re blessed when you get your inside world–your mind and heart–put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.”
From what I’ve studied, “pure in heart” means a person who is sincere, honest, has integrity, and is free from hypocrisy. You know, those who are quite aware of their imperfections, but long to be all of the above, getting their minds and hearts put right, led by God himself.
On the other hand, there are people whose brand seems to be guile and deceit. They intentionally and proudly operate in that milieu, without even trying to hide it.
I think it’s about the stance of our hearts.
I love this story by Anne Lamott. After making multiple trips to a medical lab for tests on her young son (who they thought had cancer), one particularly difficult day, she took him into the lab restroom with her. While she sat on the toilet, overwhelmed by fears and stress, Sam happily busied himself by filling urine specimen cups with water from the sink. She had a profound realization, recognizing God’s presence in the simple joy and peace of Sam’s delight. “Some people think that God is in the details, but I’ve come to believe that God is in the bathroom.”
Another story I love is told by a person who sat down on a city bus and started looking around. She also had a profound realization. She looked into people’s eyes and suddenly knew she was looking at people made in the image of God. That changed everything.
So purity of heart, in all of its imperfection, can awaken us to God’s presence. We can relax, be at peace, know we’re loved, and be free. Back when I thought everything depended on my perfection, I didn’t understand that, but I finally threw up my hands and accepted the truth. I wasn’t sitting on a toilet. I wasn’t sitting on a bus. I was sitting alone in a room, but I gave up what I had gotten wrong, and started seeing God.