Seeing Him Face to Face

Billy Graham in his autobiography “Just as I am” tells the touching story of going to Korea in December, 1952 to visit the American troops.   He was accompanied by the General assigned to the area at that time. He writes, “In a field hospital about a mile behind the front lines on Christmas Eve, we went from bed to bed, bringing greetings and trying to encourage the wounded. One young man was so mangled that he lay face down on a canvas-and-steel contraption.  A doctor whispered to me, “I doubt he’ll ever walk again.” “Mr. Graham, could I see your face:” asked the young man. “We’ve all been praying for you and looking forward to your coming.  I won’t be able to be at the service.” So I lay on the floor beneath him and looked up into his hollow eyes, still stunned with his fate.  I prayed with him. “Sir,” said the young man to General Jenkins, who was escorting me, “I fought for you, but I’ve never seen you.  Could I see your face?” The general got down on all fours, slid under that bed as best he could, and talked with the young man. I saw a tear fall from the soldier onto the general’s face.” This soldier’s desire is that of millions of Christians around the world past and present. To all those who have fought the fight and kept the faith there is the longing to see their Master’s face and one day we will. Paul in 1 Corinthians 13:12 put it like this, “for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.” The promise given here implies intimacy as well as integration. The shift from the natural—temporal to the spiritual—eternal makes this all possible. Presently each of us has a relationship with Christ which allows us to sense His presence and to experience Him by faith. However, faith according to Hebrews 11:1 is the “Substance of things hoped for the evidence of things not seen.”  This means the wait will soon be over; faith will become a reality. Our long awaited hope of seeing the one we fight for will reach its apex as Jesus steps amidst the clouds. And in the words of a King we will hear him proclaim, “Come faithful ones! Come look upon me!” Then at that very moment “every eye shall see Him.” And for the first time we will come face to face.